The AsterNym star registry
Praecipua
Praecipua: the warm orange star of Leo Minor
warm orange · Leo Minor · 46 LMi
Praecipua is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Leo Minor, 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. Praecipua 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
Praecipua at a glance
- Constellation
- Leo Minor
- Other name
- 46 LMi
- Catalogue number
- HIP 53229
- Distance
- ≈ 95 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 3.79 naked-eye
- Star type
- K0III-IV
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 10h 53m 19s
- Declination
- +34° 12′ 54″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Praecipua dedication represent?
Praecipua 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 Leo Minor in the sky.”
Where can you see Praecipua?
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 56°S.
Praecipua belongs to Leo Minor, where it is the brightest star.
Dedicate Praecipua to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Praecipua dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Praecipua's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Praecipua keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Praecipua
- Is Praecipua the brightest star?
- Praecipua shines at magnitude 3.79 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Praecipua?
- Praecipua is approximately 95 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 95 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Praecipua?
- Praecipua is the brightest star in Leo Minor.
- Can everyone see Praecipua?
- 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 56°S.
- Is dedicating Praecipua an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Praecipua 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.