The AsterNym star registry
Rasalas
Rasalas: the warm orange star of Leo
warm orange · Leo · μ Leo
Rasalas is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Leo, 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. Rasalas 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
Rasalas at a glance
- Constellation
- Leo
- Other name
- μ Leo
- Catalogue number
- HIP 48455
- Distance
- ≈ 124 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 3.88 naked-eye
- Star type
- K0III
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 09h 52m 46s
- Declination
- +26° 00′ 25″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Rasalas dedication represent?
Rasalas 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 in the sky.”
Where can you see Rasalas?
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 64°S.
Rasalas belongs to Leo.
Dedicate Rasalas to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Rasalas dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Rasalas's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Rasalas keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Rasalas
- Is Rasalas the brightest star?
- Rasalas shines at magnitude 3.88 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Rasalas?
- Rasalas is approximately 124 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 124 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Rasalas?
- Rasalas is part of Leo.
- Can everyone see Rasalas?
- 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 64°S.
- Is dedicating Rasalas an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Rasalas 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.