The AsterNym star registry
Menkent
Menkent: the warm orange star of Centaurus
warm orange · Centaurus · θ Cen
Menkent is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Centaurus, one of the few thousand stars bright enough to carry an officially recognised name. On a dark, clear night you can find it with your own eyes.
Most stars in the sky are anonymous points of light. Menkent is not — it has held a name across generations of sky-watchers, which makes it a rare thing to attach a name of your own to.
Real star · Personal dedication · Recorded in the AsterNym registry
See what a dedicated page looks like — preview
Menkent at a glance
- Constellation
- Centaurus
- Other name
- θ Cen
- Catalogue number
- HIP 68933
- Distance
- ≈ 61 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.06 naked-eye
- Star type
- K0 III
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 14h 06m 42s
- Declination
- −36° 22′ 12″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Menkent dedication represent?
Menkent is especially meaningful for someone who:
- · Deserves something older than any gift shop
- · Marks a beginning, an anniversary or a promise
- · Is remembered every time you look up
- · Has a light you want recorded somewhere permanent
Dedication idea
“For the one I think of when I find Centaurus in the sky.”
Where can you see Menkent?
It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 54°N.
Menkent belongs to Centaurus.
Dedicate Menkent to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Menkent dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Menkent's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Menkent keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Menkent
- Is Menkent the brightest star?
- Menkent shines at magnitude 2.06 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Menkent?
- Menkent is approximately 61 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 61 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Menkent?
- Menkent is part of Centaurus.
- Can everyone see Menkent?
- It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 54°N.
- Is dedicating Menkent an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Menkent keeps its internationally recognised astronomical name. An AsterNym dedication records your personal name and message in the AsterNym registry without changing the star's scientific identity.