Scheat
200 Years
At 200 light years, the star Scheat in the corner of the Great Square of Pegasus qualifies as Indiana's Bicentennial Star in 2016.
Eltanin
150 Years
South Bend celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2015 with events that featured its First Midnight and the star Eltanin in Draco.
Ruchbah
100 Years
A century ago the National Park Service debuted, the same year as Indiana's State Parks. Also in 1916, light left the star Ruchbah in Cassiopeia.
Mu Arcae
50 Years
Within 50 light years are a list of stars depicted by Atlas of the Universe. Mu Arcae has planets.
Anniversary Stars
Anniversary stars are those whose distance in light years equals the number of years being celebrated.
For example, if you were celebrating a century, the star Ruchbah at 100 light years away would be the event's Centennial Star. The light that left Ruchbah one hundred years ago would just now be reaching your eyes.
Stars merit an integral role in historical celebrations. Cultures around the world have chosen stars as the symbol of their ideals. For example, that ideal is often depicted on a flag. In addition to recognizing the prominence of stars in our iconography, proactively choose to value the real stars that inspired the stellar depictions.
Consider that half of all human history has occurred between sunset and sunrise. Get outside at night, discover the starry firmament, and find anniversary stars that commemorate history.
The other half--nighttime--awaits!