Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Rasalhague
white · Ophiuchus · α Oph
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, Rasalhague becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Rasalhague at a glance
- Constellation
- Ophiuchus
- Other name
- α Oph
- Catalogue number
- HIP 86032
- Distance
- ≈ 49 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.08 naked-eye
- Star type
- A5 III
- Colour
- white
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 17h 34m 56s
- Declination
- +12° 33′ 36″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Rasalhague?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Rasalhague belongs to Ophiuchus, where it is the brightest star.
Frequently asked questions about Rasalhague
- Is Rasalhague the brightest star?
- Rasalhague shines at magnitude 2.08 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Rasalhague?
- Rasalhague is approximately 49 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 49 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Rasalhague?
- Rasalhague is the brightest star in Ophiuchus.
- Can everyone see Rasalhague?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Rasalhague an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Rasalhague 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.