The AsterNym star registry
Mirfak
Mirfak: the yellow-white star of Perseus
yellow-white · Perseus · α Per
Mirfak is a yellow-white star, a near cousin of our own Sun's colour in the constellation Perseus, 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. Mirfak 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
Mirfak at a glance
- Constellation
- Perseus
- Other name
- α Per
- Catalogue number
- HIP 15863
- Distance
- ≈ 510 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.79 naked-eye
- Star type
- F5 Ib
- Colour
- yellow-white
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 03h 24m 19s
- Declination
- +49° 51′ 40″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Mirfak dedication represent?
Mirfak 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 Perseus in the sky.”
Where can you see Mirfak?
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 40°S.
Mirfak belongs to Perseus, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Mirfak to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Mirfak dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Mirfak's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Mirfak keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Mirfak
- Is Mirfak the brightest star?
- Mirfak shines at magnitude 1.79 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Mirfak?
- Mirfak is approximately 510 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 510 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Mirfak?
- Mirfak is the brightest star in Perseus.
- Can everyone see Mirfak?
- 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 40°S.
- Is dedicating Mirfak an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Mirfak 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.