Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Phact
blue-white · Columba · α Col
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, Phact becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Phact at a glance
- Constellation
- Columba
- Other name
- α Col
- Catalogue number
- HIP 26634
- Distance
- ≈ 261 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.65 naked-eye
- Star type
- B7IV
- Colour
- blue-white
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 05h 39m 39s
- Declination
- −34° 04′ 27″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Phact?
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 56°N.
Phact belongs to Columba, where it is the brightest star.
Frequently asked questions about Phact
- Is Phact the brightest star?
- Phact shines at magnitude 2.65 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Phact?
- Phact is approximately 261 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 261 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Phact?
- Phact is the brightest star in Columba.
- Can everyone see Phact?
- 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 56°N.
- Is dedicating Phact an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Phact 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.