Preview — this is a sample dedication, shown so you can see what a dedicated star page looks like.
A dedicated star
Zhang
golden · Hydra · υ1 Hya
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, Zhang becomes available again. Want it? Put the date in your calendar.
Zhang at a glance
- Constellation
- Hydra
- Other name
- υ1 Hya
- Catalogue number
- HIP 48356
- Distance
- ≈ 264 light-years
- Brightness
- Magnitude 4.11 naked-eye
- Star type
- G6/G8III
- Colour
- golden
- Best seen from
- Almost everywhere on Earth
- Right ascension
- 09h 51m 29s
- Declination
- −14° 50′ 48″
Coordinates are J2000 epoch, checkable against any astronomical source or planetarium app.
Where can you see Zhang?
It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
Zhang belongs to Hydra.
Frequently asked questions about Zhang
- Is Zhang the brightest star?
- Zhang shines at magnitude 4.11 — visible to the naked eye on a clear night, one of the few thousand stars with an officially recognised name.
- How far away is Zhang?
- Zhang is approximately 264 light-years from Earth. The light reaching us tonight began its journey around 264 years ago.
- Which constellation contains Zhang?
- Zhang is part of Hydra.
- Can everyone see Zhang?
- It sits near the celestial equator, so nearly every inhabited latitude gets a view of it at some point in the year.
- Is dedicating Zhang an official astronomical renaming?
- No. Zhang 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.