The AsterNym star registry

Shakata

Shakata: the warm orange star of Taurus

warm orange · Taurus · 75 Tau

Shakata is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Taurus, 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. Shakata 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

Shakata at a glance

Constellation
Taurus
Other name
75 Tau
Catalogue number
HIP 20877
Distance
187 light-years
Brightness
Magnitude 4.97 naked-eye
Star type
K2IIIvar
Colour
warm orange
Best seen from
Almost everywhere on Earth
Right ascension
04h 28m 26s
Declination
+16° 21′ 35″

Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.

What could a Shakata dedication represent?

Shakata 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 Taurus in the sky.

Dedicate Shakata

Where can you see Shakata?

It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.

Shakata belongs to Taurus.

Dedicate Shakata to someone who matters

A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.

Your Shakata dedication includes:

  • · Your chosen dedication name
  • · Your personal message
  • · Shakata's real astronomical coordinates
  • · A shareable dedication page
  • · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
  • · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation

Shakata keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.

Frequently asked questions about Shakata

Is Shakata the brightest star?
Shakata shines at magnitude 4.97 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
How far away is Shakata?
Shakata is approximately 187 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 187 years ago.
Which constellation contains Shakata?
Shakata is part of Taurus.
Can everyone see Shakata?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Is dedicating Shakata an official astronomical renaming?
No. Shakata 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.

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AsterNym dedications are personal commemorative records: they are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union, do not change scientific catalogue names, and do not confer ownership of a star.