The AsterNym star registry
Wezen
Wezen: the yellow-white star of Canis Major
yellow-white · Canis Major · δ CMa
Wezen is a yellow-white star, a near cousin of our own Sun's colour in the constellation Canis Major, 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. Wezen 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
Wezen at a glance
- Constellation
- Canis Major
- Other name
- δ CMa
- Catalogue number
- HIP 34444
- Distance
- ≈ 1,791 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 1.83 naked-eye
- Star type
- F8 Ia
- Colour
- yellow-white
- Best seen from
- The Southern Hemisphere and lower northern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 07h 08m 24s
- Declination
- −26° 23′ 36″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Wezen dedication represent?
Wezen 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 Canis Major in the sky.”
Where can you see Wezen?
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 64°N.
Wezen belongs to Canis Major.
Dedicate Wezen to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Wezen dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Wezen's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Wezen keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Wezen
- Is Wezen the brightest star?
- Wezen shines at magnitude 1.83 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Wezen?
- Wezen is approximately 1,791 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 1,791 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Wezen?
- Wezen is part of Canis Major.
- Can everyone see Wezen?
- 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 64°N.
- Is dedicating Wezen an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Wezen 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.