Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Mirfak
yellow-white · Perseus · α Per
Dedicated to
Maya
by Her sister, June · August 12, 2026
“You were born on the brightest night of my life. Whenever you feel small, remember: there is a star that has carried your name since before you could read it — and it is still up there, still burning, still yours.”
This dedication
- Dedicated to
- Maya
- Dedicated by
- Her sister, June
- Recorded
- August 12, 2026
- Held until
- August 12, 2027
When this dedication ends, Mirfak becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
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.
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.
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.