The AsterNym star registry
Polaris Australis
Polaris Australis: the yellow-white star of Octans
yellow-white · Octans · σ Oct
Polaris Australis is a yellow-white star, a near cousin of our own Sun's colour in the constellation Octans, 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. Polaris Australis 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
Polaris Australis at a glance
- Constellation
- Octans
- Other name
- σ Oct
- Catalogue number
- HIP 104382
- Distance
- ≈ 281 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 5.45 naked-eye
- Star type
- F0III
- Colour
- yellow-white
- Best seen from
- The far southern sky
- Right ascension
- 21h 08m 47s
- Declination
- −88° 57′ 23″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Polaris Australis dedication represent?
Polaris Australis 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 Octans in the sky.”
Where can you see Polaris Australis?
It is a deep-southern star: easy from Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa and South America, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 1°N.
Polaris Australis belongs to Octans, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Polaris Australis to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Polaris Australis dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Polaris Australis's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Polaris Australis keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Polaris Australis
- Is Polaris Australis the brightest star?
- Polaris Australis shines at magnitude 5.45 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Polaris Australis?
- Polaris Australis is approximately 281 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 281 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Polaris Australis?
- Polaris Australis is the brightest star in Octans.
- Can everyone see Polaris Australis?
- It is a deep-southern star: easy from Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa and South America, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 1°N.
- Is dedicating Polaris Australis an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Polaris Australis 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.