Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Unukalhai
warm orange · Serpens · α Ser
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, Unukalhai becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Unukalhai at a glance
- Constellation
- Serpens
- Other name
- α Ser
- Catalogue number
- HIP 77070
- Distance
- ≈ 74 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 2.63 naked-eye
- Star type
- K2 III
- Colour
- warm orange
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 15h 44m 18s
- Declination
- +06° 25′ 32″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Unukalhai?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Unukalhai belongs to Serpens, where it is the brightest star.
Frequently asked questions about Unukalhai
- Is Unukalhai the brightest star?
- Unukalhai shines at magnitude 2.63 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Unukalhai?
- Unukalhai is approximately 74 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 74 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Unukalhai?
- Unukalhai is the brightest star in Serpens.
- Can everyone see Unukalhai?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Unukalhai an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Unukalhai 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.