Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Shimu
warm orange · Andromeda · ζ And
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, Shimu becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
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.
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.
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.