Constellation Facts for Your Star Gift Message

Short answer: The best certificate messages are short and tied to something real. Orion, the North Star, Sirius, Vega and Altair all come with true stories you can borrow. Below are facts for each, with a few lines you can use or tweak.

How many constellations are there?

There are 88. The IAU agreed the list in 1922 and fixed the borders in 1930, so together they cover the whole sky (IAU). Every star sits inside one. Your certificate names your star's constellation, and you can choose one when you order.

Orion, the hunter

Look for three bright stars in a short line. That's Orion's Belt: Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. It sits on the celestial equator, so it's seen from almost everywhere. In the north it's a winter evening sight, roughly December to March. In Australia it shows up in summer, and looks upside down.

• "Three stars, one family."
• "You stand out in any sky."

Polaris, the North Star

Polaris sits close to the north celestial pole, so the sky seems to turn around it. That's why sailors used it to find north. It's not the brightest star. Lots outshine it.

• "You are my true north."
• "Steady, always."

Sirius, the brightest star at night

Sirius, in Canis Major, is the brightest star in the night sky. It's about 8.6 light years away, so its light takes about 8.6 years to reach us (NASA).

• "The brightest in our sky."
• "Your light still reaches us."

Vega and Altair: the lovers' stars

In an old East Asian story, Vega and Altair are two lovers kept apart by the Milky Way, who meet once a year. With Deneb, they form the Summer Triangle, high on summer nights in the north. It's a lovely one for couples who live apart. See our long-distance star gift idea.

• "No distance too far."
• "Across the sky, still together."

Cassiopeia, the queen

Five bright stars make a W (or an M). It sits on the opposite side of Polaris from the Plough.

• "Our queen, always."

Gemini, the twins

Castor and Pollux are Gemini's two brightest stars. In Greek myth they were twin brothers. Good for twins, siblings or best mates.

• "Two of a kind."

The Pleiades

A star cluster in Taurus, also called the Seven Sisters. On a dark night most people can make out about six stars. Binoculars show many more.

• "Better together."

What about star signs?

The zodiac constellations sit along the Sun's yearly path. By the IAU borders, the Sun also crosses a 13th, Ophiuchus. If you choose a star sign, your star sits inside that constellation. More in star sign constellations by birth month.

How do I write a good star certificate message?

• Keep it under 10 words if you can.
• Read it out loud. If it sounds like you, it works.
• Use a phrase they say, or a private joke.
• Match the moment: warm for a birthday, gentle for a memorial.

You'll see a live preview as you type. Ready? Start with the Signature Set, or the Gift Folio from £19.99.

Ready to write the message? See how naming a star works and find your named star once it is registered.

Questions people ask

Is a named star an official name?

No. It's a symbolic name in our register. Here's the honest detail.

Can I choose the constellation?

Yes. Pick it when you order, as long as it rises from the country you give us.