The AsterNym star registry
Shimu
Shimu: the warm orange star of Andromeda
warm orange · Andromeda · ζ And
Shimu is a warm orange giant, far along its stellar life in the constellation Andromeda, 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. Shimu 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
Shimu at a glance
- Constellation
- Andromeda
- Other name
- ζ And
- Catalogue number
- HIP 3693
- Distance
- ≈ 189 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 4.06 naked-eye
- Star type
- K1II
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 00h 47m 20s
- Declination
- +24° 16′ 02″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Shimu dedication represent?
Shimu 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 Andromeda in the sky.”
Where can you see Shimu?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Shimu belongs to Andromeda.
Dedicate Shimu to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Shimu dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Shimu's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Shimu keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Shimu
- Is Shimu the brightest star?
- Shimu shines at magnitude 4.06 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Shimu?
- Shimu is approximately 189 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 189 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Shimu?
- Shimu is part of Andromeda.
- Can everyone see Shimu?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Shimu an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Shimu 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.