The AsterNym star registry
Merak
Merak: the white star of Ursa Major
white · Ursa Major · β UMa
Merak is a white star, burning hotter than our own Sun in the constellation Ursa Major, 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. Merak 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
Merak at a glance
- Constellation
- Ursa Major
- Other name
- β UMa
- Catalogue number
- HIP 53910
- Distance
- ≈ 79 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.37 naked-eye
- Star type
- A1 V
- Colour
- white
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 11h 01m 51s
- Declination
- +56° 22′ 57″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Merak dedication represent?
Merak 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 Ursa Major in the sky.”
Where can you see Merak?
It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 34°S.
Merak belongs to Ursa Major.
Dedicate Merak to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Merak dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Merak's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Merak keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Merak
- Is Merak the brightest star?
- Merak shines at magnitude 2.37 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Merak?
- Merak is approximately 79 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 79 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Merak?
- Merak is part of Ursa Major.
- Can everyone see Merak?
- It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 34°S.
- Is dedicating Merak an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Merak 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.