The AsterNym star registry
Propus
Propus: the deep red star of Gemini
deep red · Gemini · η Gem
Propus is a deep red star in the constellation Gemini, 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. Propus 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
Propus at a glance
- Constellation
- Gemini
- Other name
- η Gem
- Catalogue number
- HIP 29655
- Distance
- ≈ 350 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 3.31 naked-eye
- Star type
- M3 III
- Colour
- deep red
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 06h 14m 52s
- Declination
- +22° 30′ 49″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Propus dedication represent?
Propus 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 Gemini in the sky.”
Where can you see Propus?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Propus belongs to Gemini.
Dedicate Propus to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Propus dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Propus's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Propus keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Propus
- Is Propus the brightest star?
- Propus shines at magnitude 3.31 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Propus?
- Propus is approximately 350 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 350 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Propus?
- Propus is part of Gemini.
- Can everyone see Propus?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Propus an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Propus 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.