Star wrecked a pirate launch (5,8)
I believe the answer is:
alpha centauri
'star' is the definition.
(Alpha Centauri is an example)
'wrecked a pirate launch' is the wordplay.
'wrecked' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'pirate'+'launch'='apiratelaunch'
'apiratelaunch' anagrammed gives 'ALPHA CENTAURI'.
(Other definitions for alpha centauri that I've seen before include "Star nearest Earth" , "Brightest star in Centaurus" , "Pair of heavenly sparklers" , "Bright southern star" , "Closest star to the Sun" .)