The AsterNym star registry

Minkar

Minkar: the warm orange star of Corvus

warm orange · Corvus · ε Crv

Minkar is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Corvus, 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. Minkar 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

Minkar at a glance

Constellation
Corvus
Other name
ε Crv
Catalogue number
HIP 59316
Distance
318 light-years
Brightness
Magnitude 3.02 naked-eye
Star type
K2 III
Colour
warm orange
Best seen from
Almost everywhere on Earth
Right ascension
12h 09m 35s
Declination
−22° 37′ 12″

Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.

What could a Minkar dedication represent?

Minkar 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 Corvus in the sky.

Dedicate Minkar

Where can you see Minkar?

It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.

Minkar belongs to Corvus.

Dedicate Minkar to someone who matters

A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.

Your Minkar dedication includes:

  • · Your chosen dedication name
  • · Your personal message
  • · Minkar's real astronomical coordinates
  • · A shareable dedication page
  • · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
  • · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation

Minkar keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.

Frequently asked questions about Minkar

Is Minkar the brightest star?
Minkar shines at magnitude 3.02 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
How far away is Minkar?
Minkar is approximately 318 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 318 years ago.
Which constellation contains Minkar?
Minkar is part of Corvus.
Can everyone see Minkar?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Is dedicating Minkar an official astronomical renaming?
No. Minkar 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.

Explore nearby stars

AsterNym dedications are personal commemorative records: they are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union, do not change scientific catalogue names, and do not confer ownership of a star.