The AsterNym star registry

Yed Prior

Yed Prior: the deep red star of Ophiuchus

deep red · Ophiuchus · δ Oph

Yed Prior is a deep red star in the constellation Ophiuchus, 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. Yed Prior 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

Yed Prior at a glance

Constellation
Ophiuchus
Other name
δ Oph
Catalogue number
HIP 79593
Distance
170 light-years
Brightness
Magnitude 2.73 naked-eye
Star type
M0.5 III
Colour
deep red
Best seen from
Almost everywhere on Earth
Right ascension
16h 14m 07s
Declination
−03° 41′ 40″

Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.

What could a Yed Prior dedication represent?

Yed Prior 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 Ophiuchus in the sky.

Dedicate Yed Prior

Where can you see Yed Prior?

It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.

Yed Prior belongs to Ophiuchus.

Dedicate Yed Prior to someone who matters

A flower fades. A card is eventually put away. A star gives your message a place in the sky.

Your Yed Prior dedication includes:

  • · Your chosen dedication name
  • · Your personal message
  • · Yed Prior's real astronomical coordinates
  • · A shareable dedication page
  • · Its location on the AsterNym Galaxy Map
  • · An optional printable certificate and gift presentation

Yed Prior keeps its established astronomical name. Your dedication is a personal commemorative record within the AsterNym registry.

Frequently asked questions about Yed Prior

Is Yed Prior the brightest star?
Yed Prior shines at magnitude 2.73 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
How far away is Yed Prior?
Yed Prior is approximately 170 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 170 years ago.
Which constellation contains Yed Prior?
Yed Prior is part of Ophiuchus.
Can everyone see Yed Prior?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Is dedicating Yed Prior an official astronomical renaming?
No. Yed Prior 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.

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AsterNym dedications are personal commemorative records: they are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union, do not change scientific catalogue names, and do not confer ownership of a star.