The AsterNym star registry
Uklun
Uklun: the golden star of Centaurus
golden · Centaurus · HD 102117
Uklun is a golden star, warmer-toned than our Sun in the constellation Centaurus, one of the few thousand stars bright enough to carry an officially recognised name. It rewards a pair of binoculars on a clear night.
Most stars in the sky are anonymous points of light. Uklun 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
Uklun at a glance
- Constellation
- Centaurus
- Other name
- HD 102117
- Catalogue number
- HIP 57291
- Distance
- ≈ 129 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 7.47 telescope
- Star type
- G6V
- Colour
- golden
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 11h 44m 50s
- Declination
- −58° 42′ 13″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Uklun dedication represent?
Uklun 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 Centaurus in the sky.”
Where can you see Uklun?
It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 31°N.
Uklun belongs to Centaurus.
Dedicate Uklun to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Uklun dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Uklun's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Uklun keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Uklun
- Is Uklun the brightest star?
- Uklun shines at magnitude 7.47 — a binocular-and-telescope star, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Uklun?
- Uklun is approximately 129 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 129 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Uklun?
- Uklun is part of Centaurus.
- Can everyone see Uklun?
- It is easy to see from much of the Southern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower northern latitudes, but it never rises for observers north of about latitude 31°N.
- Is dedicating Uklun an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Uklun 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.