The AsterNym star registry
Xihe
Xihe: the golden star of Lyra
golden · Lyra · HD 173416
Xihe is a golden star, warmer-toned than our Sun in the constellation Lyra, 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. Xihe 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
Xihe at a glance
- Constellation
- Lyra
- Other name
- HD 173416
- Catalogue number
- HIP 91852
- Distance
- ≈ 455 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 6.04 naked-eye
- Star type
- G8
- Colour
- golden
- Best seen from
- The Northern Hemisphere and lower southern latitudes
- Right ascension
- 18h 43m 36s
- Declination
- +36° 33′ 24″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
What could a Xihe dedication represent?
Xihe 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 Lyra in the sky.”
Where can you see Xihe?
It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 53°S.
Xihe belongs to Lyra.
Dedicate Xihe to someone who matters
A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.
Your Xihe dedication includes:
- · Your chosen dedication name
- · Your personal message
- · Xihe's real astronomical coordinates
- · A shareable dedication page
- · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
- · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation
Xihe keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.
Frequently asked questions about Xihe
- Is Xihe the brightest star?
- Xihe shines at magnitude 6.04 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Xihe?
- Xihe is approximately 455 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 455 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Xihe?
- Xihe is part of Lyra.
- Can everyone see Xihe?
- It is easy to see from most of the Northern Hemisphere. It can also appear from lower southern latitudes, but it never rises for observers south of about latitude 53°S.
- Is dedicating Xihe an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Xihe 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.