Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Rasalgethi
deep red · Hercules · α Her
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, Rasalgethi becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Rasalgethi at a glance
- Constellation
- Hercules
- Other name
- α Her
- Catalogue number
- HIP 84345
- Distance
- ≈ 360 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 3.08 naked-eye
- Star type
- M5 Ib-II
- Colour
- deep red
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 17h 14m 40s
- Declination
- +14° 23′ 25″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Rasalgethi?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Rasalgethi belongs to Hercules.
Frequently asked questions about Rasalgethi
- Is Rasalgethi the brightest star?
- Rasalgethi shines at magnitude 3.08 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Rasalgethi?
- Rasalgethi is approximately 360 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 360 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Rasalgethi?
- Rasalgethi is part of Hercules.
- Can everyone see Rasalgethi?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Rasalgethi an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Rasalgethi 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.