This list is continuously updated and added to by the WGSN.
IAU-Catalog of Star Names (2024)
Proper Name | Designation | HIP | Bayer ID | Constellation | Origin | Ethnic-Cultural_Group_or_Language | Reference | Additional info, e.g. constellation | Date of Adoption | image | image_source | RA | DEC | mag |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ain | HR 1409 | 20889 | ε Tau | Tau | From an abbreviation of the sci-A name ain al-thaur "the Bull's Eye," for a Tau. Applied to ε Tau in recent times (Ptolemy had α Tau the southern eye, and ε Tau on the northern eye). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Cervantes | HR 6585 | 86796 | μ Ara | Ara | Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) was a famous Spanish writer and author of "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha". | Spanish | 2015 NameExoWorlds | Ara | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Chalawan | HR 4277 | 53721 | 47 UMa | UMa | Chalawan is a mythological crocodile king from a Thai folktale. | Thai | 2015 NameExoWorlds | Ursa Major | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Edasich | HR 5744 | 75458 | ι Dra | Dra | Applied in recent times from its ind-A name al-dhikh, "the Male Hyena." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Dra | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Errai | HR 8974 | 116727 | γ Cep | Cep | Applied in recent times from its ind-A name al-ra'i, "the Shepherd". This shepherd, with the sheep he attended (al-aghnam, marked by the various dim stars nearby), and the shepherd's dog (kalb al-ra'i,marked by 28/29 [ρ] Cep), seem to form a complete group of ind-A figures. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cep | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Fafnir | HR 6945 | 90344 | 42 Dra | Dra | Fafnir was a Norse mythological dwarf who turned into a dragon. | Old Norse | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Fomalhaut | HR 8728 | 113368 | α PsA | PsA | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from an abbreviation of its sci-A name fam al-but al-janubi, "the Mouth of the Southern Fish." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | PsA | 15/12/2015 | |||||
Helvetios | HR 8729 | 113357 | 51 Peg | Peg | Helvetios is the Latin for "the Helvetian" and refers to the Celtic tribe that lived in Switzerland during the Middle Ages. | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Intercrus | HR 3743 | 46471 | UMa | Intercrus means "between the legs" in Latin style, referring to the star's position in the constellation Ursa Major. | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | |||||||
Libertas | HR 7595 | 97938 | ξ Aql | Aql | Libertas is Latin for "liberty". Liberty refers to social and political freedoms, and a reminder that there are people derived of liberty in the world even today. The constellation Aquila represents an eagle - a popular symbol of liberty. | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Lich | PSR B1257+12 | 0 | Vir | Lich is a fictional undead creature known for controlling other undead creatures with magic. | fictional | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | |||||||
Musica | HR 8030 | 103527 | 18 Del | Del | Musica is Latin for "music". | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Ogma | HD 149026 | 80838 | Her | Ogma was a deity of eloquence, writing, and great physical strength in the Celtic mythologies of Ireland and Scotland, and may be related to the Gallo-Roman deity "Ogmios". | NEWC | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | |||||||
Pollux | HR 2990 | 37826 | β Gem | Gem | This is the classical Latin form of its ancient Greek name Πολυδεύκης, a character in Greek mythology, the twin of Castor (α Gem). Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Ran | HR 1084 | 16537 | ε Eri | Eri | Ran is the Norse goddess of the sea, who stirs up the waves and captures sailors with her net. | Old Norse | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Titawin | HR 458 | 7513 | υ And | And | Titawin (also known as Medina of Tetouan) is a settlement in northern Morocco and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historically it was an important point of contact between two civilizations (Spanish and Arab) and two continents (Europe and Africa) after the 8th century. | Amazigh | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Veritate | HR 8930 | 116076 | 14 And | And | From the latin "Veritas", truth. The ablative form means "where there is truth". | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 15/12/2015 | ||||||
Achernar | HR 472 | 7588 | α Eri | Eri | Arabic name آخر النهر (āḫiru ʾn-nahr) meaning, the End of the River; originally used for θ Eri that was considered the end of the river in the ancient star catalog (Almagest).The name was transferred to α Eri in Renaissance times when the constellation was extended south to this new terminus. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eridanus | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Alcor | HR 5062 | 65477 | 80 UMa | UMa | Ultimately from the ind-A name al-jaun, for ε UMa, which was transliterated and eventually corrupted in Latin to "Alcor." The name was wrongly transferred to 80 UMa in Renaissance times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ursa Major | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Alcyone | HR 1165 | 17702 | η Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Aldebaran | HR 1457 | 21421 | α Tau | Tau | Applied in medieval times from its ind-A name al-dabaran, possibly meaning "the Follower," alternatively used as the lunar mansion name for all the Hyades (or again for α Tau alone). The name is thought to refer to this star's following the Pleiades across the sky, or to the Hyades (or α Tau) coming after the Pleiades as a lunar mansion. "Aldebaran" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in the West, from the end of the 10th century A.D. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Algenib | HR 39 | 1067 | γ Peg | Peg | From the sci-A name al-janb, "the Side," for α Per. Wrongly transferred to γ Peg in Renaissance times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Pegasus | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Algol | HR 936 | 14576 | β Per | Per | Applied in medieval times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name ras al-ghul "the Demon's Head" (for Ptolemy's Gorgon-head). "Algol" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in the West, from the end of the 10th century A.D. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Perseus | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Alioth | HR 4905 | 62956 | ε UMa | UMa | Ultimately from its ind-A name al-jaun, "the Black Horse, or Bull," which became corrupted even in Arabic sources (where some of the corruptions carried other meanings). For example, in the Arabic manuscript of the Almagest that was translated into Latin in 1175 A.D., this name of ε UMa had apparently been miswritten as al-jauza or al-jauza (the latter being identical to the sci-A name for Orion and Gemini). Whatever was read in this Arabic manuscript was transliterated into Latin as alioze. In subsequent Latin copies, this name was further corrupted to aliore, Alcor, Alioth, etc. Since late medieval times, "Alioth" became the preferred name for ε UMa. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ursa Major | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Aljanah | HR 7949 | 102488 | ε Cyg | Cyg | -- | -- | Cygnus | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Alkaid | HR 5191 | 67301 | η UMa | UMa | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from its ind-A name al-qa'id, "the Leader" (probably as leader of the Daughters of the Bier). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ursa Major | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Alpheratz | HR 15 | 677 | α And | And | The specific origin of this name is unclear. It may represent a transfer from β Peg, where alferaz and other variants were applied in medieval times as abbreviations for β Peg's Arabic name mankib al-faras, "the Horse's Shoulder". Or, it may be from an abbreviation of the name alpheraz id est equus, "alpheraz, that is, the Horse", which was applied directly to α And also in medieval times. In any case, Medieval Latin authors confused these two names, their spellings, and their identifications, and the modern application of "Alpheratz" to α And comes down to us from late medieval times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Andromeda | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Altair | HR 7557 | 97649 | α Aql | Aql | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from an abbreviation of its Arabic name al-nars al-ta)ir, "the Flying Eagle (or Vulture)", alternatively used as an asterism name for α, β and γ Aql. The name has probable origins among the Babylonians and Sumerians, for whom α Aql was "the Eagle Star". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Aquila | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Antares | HR 6134 | 80763 | α Sco | Sco | From its ancient Greek name ἀντάρης, "like Ares", likening the red colour of this star to its planetary namesake (the Roman Mars). Reapplied in Renaissance times. Possibly the Greek name goes back to a Sumerian precursor (as suggested by Horowitz). | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Scorpius | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Arcturus | HR 5340 | 69673 | α Boo | Boo | From its ancient Greek name Ἀρκτοῦρος, "the Guard, or Guardian". Reapplied in Renaissance times. As the Greek word Άρκτος, "bear," also came to mean "north," the meaning can ambiguously be "Guardian of the North" and "Guardian of the Bear", referring to the nearby constellation Ursa Major. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Bootes | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Bellatrix | HR 1790 | 25336 | γ Ori | Ori | A Latin name meaning "the Female Warrior", given to α Aur in a medieval astrological text (the reason behind this initial application is not fully understood and awaits further findings in corresponding Arabic texts). In late medieval times, bellatrix was transferred to γ Ori, perhaps by association with the name Bellator, "the Male Warrior", which was used for Orion in other astrological texts. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Orion | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Betelgeuse | HR 2061 | 27989 | α Ori | Ori | Applied with varied spellings since medieval times, from its ind-A name yad al-jauza', "the Hand of al-jauza'" (The first medieval transliteration into Latin was bedalgeuze, mistaking the initial Arabic letter as "b" instead of "y." In Renaissance times this corruption was erroneously attributed to the assumed Arabic word "bat" [properly ibt], for "the Armpit" of al-jauza', giving rise to the corruption Betelgeuse" seen today. Thus by Renaissance times both the "y" and "d" of the first part of the ind-A name had become corrupted.) The ind-A asterism al-jauza' was a feminine figure represented in the stars of what is today Orion. The origin of its name is unclear (as with nearly all of the ancient group of ind-A names). The root jwz can mean "middle," and the word al-jauza' is structured as a feminine adjective, thus al-jauza' may mean "the female one, having something about her related to the middle." There have been different speculations as to what the "middle" reference, if that is what it is, could be (for one example). The ind-Arabs' al-jauza' corresponded to what in other cultures was Gemini among the zodiacal signs. The sci-Arabs subsequently used the indigenous name for both the Greek Orion and Twins, leading to some confusion in star names between the two constellations. An alternative sci-A name for Orion was al-jabbar, "the Giant" and for Gemini, al-taw'aman, "the Twins." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Orion | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Canopus | HR 2326 | 30438 | α Car | Car | From its ancient Greek name Κάνωβος (Ptolemy's spelling), an untranslated proper name that was introduced rather late into Greek astronomy (perhaps in the 2nd century BCE). There seem to be Egyptian influences in the name's development. Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Carina | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Capella | HR 1708 | 24608 | α Aur | Aur | Its ancient Roman name meaning "the She-goat" (but more commonly given, in antiquity, as Capra), after the star's Greek name αίξ, "the Goat". Reapplied in recent times. The Roman names Capella, Aselli (for γ/ δ Cnc), and others in the diminutive form (also in Greek), are likely meant to indicate an atypical use of words, as an animal's name given to a star instead of to the animal (rather than meaning "small" animals or personages). | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Auriga | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Caph | HR 21 | 746 | β Cas | Cas | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its ind-A name al-kaff al-khadib "the Stained Hand," alternatively and more correctly used for all the brighter stars of today's Cassiopeia (probably α, β, γ, δ, and ε). The ind-A figure here represented a hand with its finger-tips stained reddish-brown in the traditional Eastern way using henna leaves. al-kaff al-khatdib, in turn, was part of the larger ind-A asterism kaff althurayya al-yumna al-mabsuta, "the Outstretched Right Hand of the Pleiades." The latter extended from today's Taurus through Perseus into Cassiopeia. A second hand (the Pleiades were a "head" from which two arms or hands radiated) was al-kaff al-jadhma', "the Amputated Hand," in today's Cetus. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cassiopeia | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Castor | HR 2891 | 36850 | α Gem | Gem | From its ancient Greek name Κάστωρ, a character in Greek mythology, the twin of Pollux (β Gem). Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Gemini | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Deneb | HR 7924 | 102098 | α Cyg | Cyg | "Tail" in Arabic | Arabic | Cyg | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Denebola | HR 4534 | 57632 | β Leo | Leo | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from its sci-A name dhanab al-asad, "the Lion's Tail." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Dubhe | HR 4301 | 54061 | α UMa | UMa | Applied in medieval times from the sci-A constellation name al-dubb, "the Bear," for Ursa Major. The spelling in the oldest sources was edubh (corresponding to the Arabic noun with the article al prefixed as e). Afterwards, by corruption, the initial e was transferred to the end of the word: dubhe. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Megrez | HR 4660 | 59774 | δ UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name maghriz al-dubb al-akbar, "the Root (of the tail) of the Greater Bear." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Menkar | HR 911 | 14135 | α Cet | Cet | From the Arabic word al-minkhar, "the nostrils," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing λ Cet. Wrongly applied as a star name to α Cet (properly on the "jaw") in a Medieval Latin star table. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cet | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Merak | HR 4295 | 53910 | β UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name maraqq al-dubb al-akbar, "the Flank (or Groin) of the Greater Bear." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Mira | HR 681 | 10826 | ο Cet | Cet | Its Latin name since Renaissance times meaning "the Amazing One", as taken from Historiola Mirae Stellae - the title of a work describing the amazing variability of this star (written by Hevelius in 1662). | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Mirach | HR 337 | 5447 | β And | And | Ultimately from the Arabic word al-mi)zar, "the girdle" or "loin cloth", used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. The correct transliteration of the word in the Medieval Latin Almagest was mizar, which was occasionally misspelled as mirac, mirat, etc. These corruptions, taken as proper names for β And, were correctly attributed to al-mi)zar by Renaissance scholars. Subsequently one of the misspellings, "Mirach", gained more popularity over the correct "Mizar", to beome the preferred modern name. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Mizar | HR 5054 | 65378 | ζ UMa | UMa | Ultimately from the Arabic word al-maraqq, "the Groin," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing β UMa. Correct transliterations of almaraqq in the Medieval Latin Almagest were mirac and mirach. However, Renaissance scholars confused these words with the Arabic word mi'zar, which had equally been transliterated and corrupted in Latin as mirac, mirach, etc. Subsequently the mistaken mi'zar, written as "Mizar," was applied as a star name to β UMa, and it became transferred to ζ UMa in late Renaissance times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Pleione | HR 1180 | 17851 | 28 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Polaris | HR 424 | 11767 | α UMi | UMi | A Latin adjective meaning "of the pole" (related to the noun polus, "the pole"). Applied as a star name to α UMi in Renaissance times, it reflects the star's temporary proximity to the north celestial pole. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Procyon | HR 2943 | 37279 | α CMi | CMi | From its ancient Greek name Προκύων, "the One Preceding the Dog", referring to its rising shortly before the "Dog Star", Sirius. Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Rasalgethi | HR 6406 | 84345 | α1 Her | Her | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from its sci-A name ra's al-jathi, "the Kneeler's Head." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Her | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Regulus | HR 3982 | 49669 | α Leo | Leo | The name is a Latin translation of the ancient Greek name for this star: βασιλίσκος, "the (little) King" or "the Kingly One", which is a translation of the Sumerian name of the star: LUGAL (The King). The Romans, following the Greeks, called the star stella regia, "the Royal Star". Later, the Medieval Latin Almagest, translating from the Arabic (where in one version the original Greek diminutive had been lost), had rex, "the King". The form "Regulus" (again, the [little] King") first appears in 1522, obviously formed by some Renaissance scholar after the Greek diminutive name. | Latin | MUL.APIN I i 9 (Hunger and Steele 2019). Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Rigel | HR 1713 | 24436 | β Ori | Ori | From an abbrevation of its ind-A (and sci-A) name rijl al-jauza', the Foot of al-jauza'." "Rigel" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in the West, from the end of the 10th century A.D. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ori | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Scheat | HR 8775 | 113881 | β Peg | Peg | From the Arabic word al-saq, "the shin," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing δ Aqr. Wrongly transferred as a star name to τ Peg in late medieval times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Peg | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Sirius | HR 2491 | 32349 | α CMa | CMa | From its ancient Greek name Σείριος, "the Scorching one", or "Brilliant One", appropriate for this brightest of the fixed stars. Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Spica | HR 5056 | 65474 | α Vir | α Vir | Its ancient Roman name meaning "the Ear of Grain", after the star's Greek name στάχυς of identical meaning (in turn having obvious origins among the Babylonians and Sumerians). Reapplied in Renaissance times. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2016 | ||||||
Thuban | HR 5291 | 68756 | α Dra | Dra | The formation of this name begins with the sci-A name for γ Dra: ra's al-tinnin, "the Serpent's Head." In medieval times this was transliterated into Latin as raztaben, rahtaben, razcaben, and several other corruptions (eventually leading to the name for β Dra). By Renaissance times the form Rastaben had appeared, and this name was erroneously attributed, in its last part, to the Arabic word thu'ban, "serpent", rather than to al-tinnin (subsequently thu<ban was wrongly regarded as a sci-A name for the constellation Draco). Finally in recent times, the erroneous word, written as "Thuban," was applied as a star name to α Dra. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Dra | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Vega | HR 7001 | 91262 | α Lyr | Lyr | Applied in medieval times from an abbreviation of its ind-A name alnasr al-waqi', "the Swooping Eagle (or Vulture)," alternatively used as an asterism name for α, ε, and ζ Lyr. "Vega" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in the West, from the end of the 10th century A.D. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lyr | 30/06/2016 | |||||
Acamar | HR 897 | 13847 | θ1 Eri | Eri | From its sci-A name akhir al-nahr, "the River's End". Applied in medieval times, and reapplied in recent times | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eridanus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Acrux | HR 4730 | 60718 | α Cru | Cru | < α Crucis | Contemporary | MacKworth, P.H. et al. (1938) ‘The Air Almanac: Discussion on the New Form of Nautical Allowance for Rapid Position Finding’, The Geographical journal, 92(2), p.137. | Crux | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Acubens | HR 3572 | 44066 | α Cnc | Cnc | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the Arabic word al-zubana, "the claw", used in Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos in describing the stars α and ι Cnc. Otherwise, the same Arabic word was used for the "claws" of Scorpius. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cancer | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Adhafera | HR 4031 | 50335 | ζ Leo | Leo | From. the sci-A name al-dafira, "the Lock of Hair," for the Coma Berenices cluster. Wrongly applied to Leo in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Albireo | HR 7417 | 95947 | α Cyg | Cyg | The formation of this name begins with Ptolemy's name for the constellation Cygnus - ὄρνις, "the Bird". The Arabs transliterated this name as urnis. The Medieval Latin translator of the Arabic Almagest, in turn, did not recognize any Greek word behind urnis (or whatever Arabic corruption he may have read), so he merely transliterated it into a form which appeared int he manuscripts variously as eurisim, eirisun, eirism, etc. In a note appended to this Medieval Latin constellation name for Cygnus, one Latin commentator ventured to derive it from the name of an aromatic herb he knew: ireus. This erroneous commentary read, in brief part: "eirisim...ab ireo", or, "[the constellation name] eirisim...[coming] from [the word] ireus". Apparently in one manuscript of the Latin Almagest, the final word of this commentary, ab ireo, were written on the next line below the constellation title, where the descriptions of the stars begin. Since the first star entered in the Almagest under the constellation Cygnus is β Cyg, the words ab ireo seem to have been confused as a name for this star. "Arabicized" with the insertion of the letter "l", ab ireo, written as "Albireo", was applied as a star name to β Cyg by Renaissance times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cygnus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alderamin | HR 8162 | 105199 | α Cep | Cep | Applied to α Cep since medieval times. The derivation understood since Renaissance times was from al-dhira (al-)yamin, "the Right Forearm," an assumed sci-A descriptive term for α Cep. But this is apparently erroneous. Firstly, in the Almagest, α Cep is described on the right "shoulder" (Arabic al-katif or al-mankib) of Cepheus, whereas no right "forearm" (al-dhira<) is described for the figure. Secondly, in Arabic, "right forearm" is spelled correctly as al-dhira al-yumna, which (in contrast to al-yamin) lacks assonance in the last syllable to Alderamin. Therefore, it is more likely that Alderamin is derived from the various medieval Western abbreviations of muqaddam al-dhira<ain, "the Preceding One of the Two Cubits, or Forearms," which was a sci-A name (based on ind-A) for α Gem. This would have been wrongly transferred to α Cep in medieval times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cepheus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Algieba | HR 4057 | 50583 | γ1 Leo | Leo | Applied in recent times from the ind-A lunar mansion name al-jabha "the Forehead," for ζ, γ, η, and α Leo, associated with the ind-A asterism al-asad. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Algorab | HR 4757 | 60965 | δ Crv | Crv | From an abbreviation of the sci-A name janab al-ghurab, "the Raven's Wing," for γ Crv. Transferred to δ Crv in Renaissance times (both γ and δ were on the Raven's wings in the Almagest). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Corvus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alhena | HR 2421 | 31681 | γ Gem | Gem | Applied in recent times from the ind-A lunar mansion name al-bana, possibly meaning "the Mark on the Neck of a Camel," for γ and ξ Gem, or alternatively for γ, ξ, η, μ, and v Gem. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Gemini | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Almach | HR 603 | 9640 | γ And | And | The formation of this name begins with the Arabic name for this star: ʿanaq al-ard, "the Caracal" (a black-eared feline predator found in the Middle East). The Arabs also gave the name in short form as al-ʿanaq, which became transliterated into Medieval Latin as alamac. in Renaissance times, the derivatin of alamac was erroneously attributed to the assumed Arabic word al-maq (properly al-muq) for "the boot" or "buskin", rather than to al-ʿanaq. Subsequently the erroneous word, as "Almaak" and later "Almach" was applied as a star name to γ And, mostly in astronomical works in English. Other, non-English works use the spelling "Alamak" derived directly from the Medieval Latin transliteration. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Andromeda | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alnair | HR 8425 | 109268 | α Gru | Gru | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its late Arabic name al-nayyir min dhanab al-but, "the Bright One from the Fish's Tail" (where a l6th century Arabic astronomer had extended Ptolemy's Southern Fish [Piscis Austrinus] into what is today Grus). The form Al Na'ir was taken from a wrong transliteration (Al Na'ir) of the Arabic adjective al-nayyir, "the Bright One." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Grus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alnilam | HR 1903 | 26311 | ε Ori | Ori | Applied in recent times from the ind-A asterism name al-nizam, "the String of Pearls," for δ, ε, and ζ Ori. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Orion | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alnitak | HR 1948 | 26727 | ζ Ori | Ori | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A asterism name nitaq al-jauza, "the Belt (or Girdle) of al-jauza," for δ, ε, and ζ Ori. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Orion | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alphard | HR 3748 | 46390 | α Hya | Hya | Applied in medieval times from its ind-A name al-fard, "the Solitary One," descriptive of this star's standing out among the surrounding dim stars. (See the same word in the plural, with ζ CMa.) | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Hydra | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alphecca | HR 5793 | 76267 | α CrB | CrB | Applied in medieval times from the ind-A asterism name al-fakka, for Corona Borealis. The Arabic name, from the root f-k-k, "to separate, break up, etc.," apparently refers to this asterism's shape: an incomplete circle. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Corona Borealis | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Aludra | HR 2827 | 35904 | η CMa | CMa | Applied in recent times from the alternative Arabic asterism name al-(udhra, "the Virginity", and (udhrat aljauza), "the Virginity [?] of al-jauza)", for ε, δ, η and ο2 CMa. The name (udhrat al-jauza), by tying it with the nearly Arabic asterism al-jauza) (today's Orion), may have been an attempt to apply significance to the enigmatic and perhaps older name al-(udhra. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Canis Minor | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alula Australis | HR 4375 | 55203 | ξ UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from their ind-A name al-qafza al-ula, "the First Leap", and the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ursa Major | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Alula Borealis | HR 4377 | 55219 | ν UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from their ind-A name al-qafza al-ula, "the First Leap", and the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ursa Major | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Ankaa | HR 99 | 2081 | α Phe | Phe | Applied in recent times from the modern Arabic constellation name al-'anqa' (a fabulous bird) for Phoenix. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Phoenix | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Arneb | HR 1865 | 25985 | α Lep | Lep | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name al-arnab "the Hare", for Lepus. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lepus | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Aspidiske | HR 3699 | 45556 | ι Car | Car | Applied in recent times from the Greek word ἀσπιδίσκη, "little shield", used by Ptolemy in the Almagest in describing several stars in his constellation Argo, that were fixed to the ship for protection and decoration. Ptolemy's shields were in today's Puppis and Vela, but their identification was confused when Argo was divided into the modern Carina, Puppis, and Vela. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Carina | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Atria | HR 6217 | 82273 | α TrA | TrA | Contraction of Bayer designation A(lpha) Tri(anguli) A(ustralis). | Latin | "The American Nautical Almanac for the Year 1952" (United States Naval Observatory, Washington D.C.). | Name listed as "Alpha Tri. Aust." in 1951 American Nautical Almanac, but listed as "Atria" in 1952 version and subsequent versions. | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Avior | HR 3307 | 41037 | ε Car | Car | Invented for The Air Almanac of the HM Nautical Almanac Office | English | "A Personal History of H.M. Nautical Almanac Office: 30 October 1930-18 February 1972" by Donald H. Sadler. Edited by George A. Wilkins. Sidford, Devon, 2008. Copyright United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 2008. | Carina | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Chara | HR 4785 | 61317 | β CVn | CVn | Applied in Renaissance times from the Greek word χαρά, "joy", that was used by Hevelius in 1690 to name the southern dog (marked by α and β CVn) in his new constellation Canes Vanatici. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Canes Venatici | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Chertan | HR 4359 | 54879 | θ Leo | Leo | Applied in recent times from one spelling of the ind-A lunar mansion name al-khurtan, "the Two Small Ribs (at or near the breast)," for δ and θ Leo. The more common and apparently correct spelling of the lunar mansion name is al-kharatan, of unknown meaning. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Copernicus | HR 3522 | 43587 | 55 Cnc | Cnc | Nicolaus Copernicus or Mikolaj Kopernik (1473-1543) was a Polish astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system in his book "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium". | Latin | 2015 NameExoWorlds | Cancer | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Cor Caroli | HR 4915 | 63125 | α2 CVn | CVn | The name first appeared in 1673 on the northern half of a pair of celestial hemispheres that accompanied a book called Astroscopium by the English cartographer Francis Lamb. He labelled the star Cor Caroli Regis Martyris, a reference to the fact that King Charles I was beheaded, or ‘martyred’, as Lamb loyally put it (Charles had declared himself ‘martyr of the people’ at his execution). | Latin | Lamb, Francis (1673). Astroscopium, or, Two hemispheres containing all the northern and southern constellations projected upon the poles of the world : which (by the help of a movable horizon) are rendred serviceable in any latitude : the uses of which hemispheres are illustrated by variety of examples. | Canes Venatici | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Cursa | HR 1666 | 23875 | β Eri | Eri | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A asterism name kursiy al-jauza' al-muqaddam, "the Foremost footstool of aljauza' [today's Orion]," for λ, β and ψ Eri, and τ Ori. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eri | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Elnath | HR 1791 | 25428 | β Tau | Tau | Arabic | -- | Tau | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Enif | HR 8308 | 107315 | ε Peg | Peg | Applied in medieval times, evidently from the Arabic word anf, "nose" (Ptolemy had described this star on the horse's "muzzle"). However, sci-A sources do not mention anf for ε Peg, only other terms, hence the ultimate origin of "Enif" remains uncertain. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Peg | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Furud | HR 2282 | 30122 | ζ CMa | CMa | Ultimately from the Arabic word al-furud, "the solitary ones", used in an Arabic poet's allusion to anonymous "solitary stars" around some star hadari. The word was not intended as a name for specific stars as some later Arabic authors supposed. The attempted identity of the "al-furud" stars, like their companion hadari, was variously attributed to stars in today's Centaurus and Columba. The latter stars were included under Canis Maior in the Almagest, leading, in recent times, to the confused assignment of the erroneous "Furud". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Gacrux | HR 4763 | 61084 | γ Cru | Cru | Contraction of Gamma and Crux, appearing in the 1940s. | Contemporary | "The Observer's Handbook (1947; Royal Astronomical Society of Canada), "The Air Almanac 1953 May-August" (United States Naval Observatory, Washington; Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London). | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Gomeisa | HR 2845 | 36188 | β CMi | CMi | From the ind-A surname al-ghumaisa', "the Little Bleary-eyed One ('with a filthy fluid in the corner of the eye')," for α CMi. Wrongly transferred to β CMi in recent times. The original significance of the surname is unknown. Perhaps as an attempt to explain the significance of al-ghumaisa', as well as that of the surname al-<abur, "the One Having Crossed Over [a river, etc.]," for α CMa, an Arabic fable developed associating these and other equally enigmatic star names. According to one version of the fable, al-ghumaisa and ai-'abur were sisters, and their brother was suhail (α Car). Suhail, in turn, was the suitor of al-jauza' (the feminine ind-A figure in place of Orion). In coitus, suhail broke the spine of al-jauza', thus killing her, after which suhail fled south. He was followed by his sister al-'abur who "crossed over" the Milky Way (where the two stars now lie in the southern sky). Meanwhile suhail's second sister, al-ghumaisa, was left alone north of the Milky Way, weeping, until her "eyes became bleary." (The ind-A name for α CMa was al-shi'ra, of unknown meaning. Apparently it was developed into a dualis form, al-shi'rayan, to accomodate both α CMa and α CMi, with the aforementioned "surnames" distinguishing the two.) | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | CMi | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Hamal | HR 617 | 9884 | α Ari | Ari | Applied in recent times from the Arabic constellation name, al-hamal, "the Lamb", for Aries. al-hamal seems to belong to those zodiacal constellation names already known in Arabic times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Kaus Australis | HR 6879 | 90185 | ε Sgr | Sgr | Arbitrarily applied in recent times, together with the Latin distinctions of "middle," "southern," and "northern" (for λ Sgr), from the ind-A (and later sci-A) constellation name al-qaus, "the Bow." For the ind-Arabs, al-qaus was marked by the curved line of stars ξ2, o, π, d, ρ and u Sgr (corresponding to what in other cultures was Sagittarius among the zodiacal signs). The sci-Arabs used the indigenous name for the Greeks' Archer, alternatively translated as al-rami. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sgr | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Kaus Borealis | HR 6913 | 90496 | λ Sgr | Sgr | Arbitrarily applied in recent times, together with the Latin distinctions of "middle," "southern," and "northern" (for λ Sgr), from the ind-A (and later sci-A) constellation name al-qaus, "the Bow." For the ind-Arabs, al-qaus was marked by the curved line of stars ξ2, o, π, d, ρ and u Sgr (corresponding to what in other cultures was Sagittarius among the zodiacal signs). The sci-Arabs used the indigenous name for the Greeks' Archer, alternatively translated as al-rami. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sgr | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Kaus Media | HR 6859 | 89931 | δ Sgr | Sgr | Arbitrarily applied in recent times, together with the Latin distinctions of "middle," "southern," and "northern" (for λ Sgr), from the ind-A (and later sci-A) constellation name al-qaus, "the Bow." For the ind-Arabs, al-qaus was marked by the curved line of stars ξ2, o, π, d, ρ and u Sgr (corresponding to what in other cultures was Sagittarius among the zodiacal signs). The sci-Arabs used the indigenous name for the Greeks' Archer, alternatively translated as al-rami. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sgr | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Kochab | HR 5563 | 72607 | β UMi | UMi | Applied to β UMi in Renaissance times and of uncertam derivation. It is probably from one of the names Alrucaba, Rucaba, etc., that were first applied to θ UMa, then to α UMi, in medieval times. However, the name may also be from the Arabic word kaukab, or the Hebrew word kokhabh, both meaning "star." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMi | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Maia | HR 1149 | 17573 | 20 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Mebsuta | HR 2473 | 32246 | ε Gem | Gem | From an abbreviation of the ind-A asterism name dhira' al-asad almabsuta, "the Lion's Outstretched Paw," for one of the two pairs α/β Gem or α/β CMi. These pairs were assigned to the larger ind-A asterism al-asad, but there is no unanimity in the Arabic sources as to which pair was the "outstretched" or "folded" paw. "Mebsuta" was arbitrarily applied as a star name to ε Gem in recent times. In its indigenous location stretching from parts of Gemini all the way into Virgo, the ind-A al-asad, "the Lion," corresponded to what in other cultures was Leo among the zodiacal signs. Subsequently the sci-Arabs used the indigenous name for the smaller Greek Lion (Leo). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Gem | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Meissa | HR 1879 | 26207 | λ Ori | Ori | From the ind-A name al-maisan, for either γ or ξ Gem. The meaning of the name is uncertain. It may mean "the Sparkling One," referring to a star, or "the Proudly Marching One," referring to a person. Together, γ and ξ Gem composed the ind-A 6th lunar mansion alhan'a. The nearby stars λ, ϕ1, and ϕ2 Ori composed the adjacent 5th lunar mansion al-haq'a. Due to confusion between these two parent lunar mansions in a late Arabic source, "Meissa" was wrongly applied to λ Ori (rather than to γ or ξ Gem) in recent times. "Meissa" (without n at the end) corresponds to ind-A almaisa', a variant form of al-maisan. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ori | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Menkalinan | HR 2088 | 28360 | β Aur | Aur | Applied in recent times from its Arabic name mankib dhi l-(inan, "the Shoulder of the Reinholder". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Merope | HR 1156 | 17608 | 23 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Miaplacidus | HR 3685 | 45238 | β Car | Car | Applied in recent times, and of unknown astronomical significance. The first element, Mia-, is unexplained. The second element is the Latin adjective placidus, meaning "calm, gentle" (here in the masculine form). | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Mimosa | HR 4853 | 62434 | β Cru | Cru | Applied in recent times, and of unknown astronomical significance. It is from the Latin word mimus, "an actor", and is otherwise known as the genus name for certain tropical plants. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Mintaka | HR 1852 | 25930 | δ Ori | Ori | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A (and sci-A) asterism name mintaqat al-jauza', "the Belt (or Girdle) of al-jauza'", for δ, ε, and ζ Ori. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ori | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Mirfak | HR 1017 | 15863 | α Per | Per | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its ind-A name mirfaq al-thurayya, "the Elbow of the Pleiades," for its location in the ind-A asterism here. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Per | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Mirzam | HR 2294 | 30324 | β Cma | Cma | Applied in recent times from its Arabic name al-mirzam, of unknown meaning. The Arabs also gave the name to β CMi, and sometimes to γ Ori. Each al-mirzam star preceded the rising of a brighter star (our Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse, respectively), which probably connects to the unknown meaning. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Muscida | HR 3323 | 41704 | ο UMa | UMa | Almagestum 1515: "illa quae est supra extremitatem Musciae" - Bayer (1603) "in naso, barbaris muscida." - attributed to "Barbarians" | Latin | Ptolemaeus. (1515). Almagestū Cl[audii] Ptolemei Pheludiensis Alexandrini Astronomo[rum] principis : opus ingens ac nobile omnes celorū motus continens ... Liechtenstein, Petrus. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Nihal | HR 1829 | 25606 | β Lep | Lep | Applied in recent times from the ind-A asterism name al-nihal "the Camels Beginning to Quench Their Thirst" for α, β, γ and δ Lep. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lep | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Peacock | HR 7790 | 100751 | α Pav | Pav | Invented for The Air Almanac of the HM Nautical Almanac Office | English | "A Personal History of H.M. Nautical Almanac Office: 30 October 1930-18 February 1972" by Donald H. Sadler. Edited by George A. Wilkins. Sidford, Devon, 2008. Copyright United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 2008. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Phact | HR 1956 | 26634 | α Col | Col | Applied in recent times from the Arabic word fakhita, "ring dove," used in connection with the constellation Cygnus in a Renaissance discussion of Arabic bird names. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Col | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Phecda | HR 4554 | 58001 | γ UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name fakhidh al-dubb al-akbar, "the Thigh of the Greater Bear." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Porrima | HR 4825 | 61941 | γ Vir | Vir | The name of a Roman goddess, one of several mythological names mentioned in connection with the constellation Virgo. Applied as a star name in recent times. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Propus | HR 2216 | 29655 | η Gem | Gem | Applied in Renaissance times from the Greek word πρόπους, "forward foot", used by Ptolemy in the Almagest in describing this star. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Rasalhague | HR 6556 | 86032 | α Oph | Oph | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from its sci-A name ra's al-bawwa', "the Head of the Serpent Collector." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Oph | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Rukbat | HR 7348 | 95347 | α Sgr | Sgr | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name rukbat al-rami, "the Archer's Knee". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sgr | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Saiph | HR 2004 | 27366 | κ Ori | Ori | From an abbreviation of the sci-A asterism name saif al-jabbar, the Giant's Sword," for η, c, θ, and ι Ori. Wrongly applied as a star name to κ Ori in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ori | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Shaula | HR 6527 | 85927 | λ Sco | Sco | The Arabic lunar mansion "Al Shaula" ("the sting") refers to the pair Lambda and Upsilon Sco (Al Sufi), the two stars that have been called "the sting of the Scorpion" even in MUL.APIN (I ii 31-32) but with different proper names there. "Shaula" appeared more in early modern literature for the pair of stinger stars after Hyde's (1665) translation of Ulugh Beg, and specifically for Lambda Sco after Piazzi's (1814) Palermo Catalog. | Sumerian | Horowitz, W. (2018) ‘Communication and miscommunication in the southern sky’, in Registers and Modes of Communication in the Ancient Near East. 1st edn. Routledge, pp. 69–84. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Sheratan | HR 553 | 8903 | β Ari | Ari | Applied in recent times from the Arabic lunar mansion name al-shara-tan, for β and γ Ari. The name means "two" of something, but the complete meaning is uncertain. Some Arabic authors suggested that it meant "the Two Signs", implying these stars as some kind of celestial indicator; others assumed it meant "the Two Horns", referring to the Arabic figure of al-hamals here. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Talitha | HR 3569 | 44127 | ι UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A name alqafza al-thalitha, "the Third Leap," for ι and κ UMa. This pair, with the pairs λ/μ and v/ξ UMa, composed the ind-A asterism qafazat al-ziba', "the Leaps of the Gazelles," imagined as the tracks left by those animals. In some later tradition, qafazat al-ziba' and adjacent asterisms were associated in a fable, where several gazelles leaped away from the Lion into a pond, leaving their tracks behind. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Tania Australis | HR 4069 | 50801 | μ UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from their ind-A name al-qafza al-thaniya, "the Second Leap", and the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Tania Borealis | HR 4033 | 50372 | λ UMa | UMa | Applied in recent times from their ind-A name al-qafza al-thaniya, "the Second Leap", and the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMa | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Tonatiuh | HR 4609 | 58952 | Cam | Tonatiuh was the Aztec god of the Sun. | Aztec | 2015 NameExoWorlds | 20/07/2016 | |||||||
Vindemiatrix | HR 4932 | 63608 | ε Vir | Vir | The formation of this name begins with the classical Greek name for this star: Protrygeter ("the Grape Gatherer") as it is given in the Almagest: ὁ βόρειος αὐτῶv καὶ καλούμενος Προτρυγητήρ. The Romans translated this name as vindemiator and other similiar masculine forms. Similarly, after a somewhat erroneous translation of the Greek name by the Arabs, the Medieval Latin translation in the Almagest was precedens vindemiatorem, "the One preceding the Grape Gatherer", modified in some editions of the Alphonsine Tables into precedens vindemitorem. The exact origin of the current, feminine "Vindemiatrix" from any of these forms is uncertain, but it first appeared in Renaissance times. | Latin | Almagest (Heiberg edition, II 102). Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Wazn | HR 2040 | 27628 | β Col | Col | Applied in recent times from some ind-A name al-wazn, of unknown significance. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Col | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Wezen | HR 2693 | 34444 | δ CMa | CMa | From the Arabic name al-wazn, for one of a pair of stars, the other one being hadari. Arabic authors ventured to identify these stars as α/β Cen or α/β Col, but exactly what two stars were originally intended, and the significance of their names, is unknown. As a common noun in Arabic, al-wazn means "the weight". "Wezen" was arbitrarily applied to δ CMa in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Zaurak | HR 1231 | 18543 | γ Eri | Eri | From the Arabic word zauraq, "boat," used in an unaginat1ve, nonclassical description of several stars near Eridanus (evidently the stars of today's Phoenix). Arbitrarily applied as a star name toy Eri in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eri | 20/07/2016 | |||||
Zosma | HR 4357 | 54872 | δ Leo | Leo | From the Greek word ζῶσμα, "girdle" or "loin cloth". In Renaissance times this word was erroneously said to have been used to describe δ Leo in a medieval Greek text. Correctly, the text has ὀσφῦς, "hip" or "lower back" (after Ptolemy). The name "Zosma" (transliterated from the erroneous Greek word) was applied in recent times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 20/07/2016 | ||||||
Acrab | HR 5984 | 78820 | β1 Sco | Sco | Arabic name al-'Aqrab for the constellation Scorpius ("the scorpion") (e.g. Al Sufi). Application of the transliteration "Acrab" specifically to the pair Beta1 and Beta2 Sco was made by Piazzi (1814) in the Palermo Catalog, and its use spread through the 19th century. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, P. (1959) Arabische Sternnamen in Europa. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. No. 3; 88; 108 | Scorpius | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Adhara | HR 2618 | 33579 | ε CMa | CMa | Applied in recent times from the Arabic asterism name al-(adhara, "the Virgins", for ε, δ, η and ο2 CMa. The significance of the name is unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Canis Major | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Adhil | HR 390 | 6411 | ξ And | And | From the Arabic word al-dhail, "the train of a robe or dress", used in the Arabic Almagest in describing A and χ And, and transliterated in the Medieval Latin Almagest as adhil. This word was wrongly applied as a star name to ξ And in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Andromeda | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alfirk | HR 8238 | 106032 | β Cep | Cep | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A names kaukaba al-firq (for α and β Cep ), and kawakib al-firq (for α, β , and η Cep). kaukaba and kawakib mean "two stars" and "stars" (more than two), respectively, but the original Arabic script for al-firq can be vocalized in various ways with various meanings. If the vocalization al-firq is accepted, it means "the Flock," and may refer to a flock of sheep here. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cepheus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Algedi | HR 7754 | 100064 | α2 Cep | Cep | Reapplied in recent times (from its older medieval spelling), from the scientific Arabic constellation name al-jady, "the Kid," for Capricornus. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cepheus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alkalurops | HR 5733 | 75411 | μ Boo | Boo | The formation of this name begins with one of the words used by Ptolemy to describe this star in the Almagest: κολλόροβον, "club", rarely used as "sphepherd's staff". This word was transliterated into Arabic as qulurubus, and hence into Latin as calurus. Then in Renaissance times, the derivation of calurus was mistakenly attributed to another Greek word: καλαῦροψ, "shepherd's staff". This erroneous word, in its turn, was transliterated into Latin, then Arabicized with the article al-, then its spelling corrupted, to become "Alkalurops", which was thereafter applied as a star name to μ Boo. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Bootes | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alnasl | HR 6746 | 88635 | γ2 Sgr | Sgr | Applied in recent times from its late Arabic name al-nasl, "the Point," in turn an abbreviation of the Arabic Almagest's nasl al-sahm, "the Point of the Arrow." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sagittarius | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alrescha | HR 596 | 9487 | α Psc | Psc | From the ind-A lunar mansion name al-risha', "the Cord," for β And. Wrongly transferred to α Psc in recent times. According to a sci-A source, the ind-A al-risha' included, in a larger sense, two curving lines of mostly dim stars in Andromeda and Pisces, meant to attach to the ind-A al-dalw "the Well Bucket" (marked by today's Square of Pegasus). It is also possible that this "cord" was a remnant of the cord joining the two fish of the older Babylonian zodiac. Indeed, these stars of the cord were alternatively known by the ind-Arabs as al-hut, "the Fish" (a single fish), corresponding to what in other cultures was Pisces among the zodiacal signs (and according to this tradition, the Fish's brightest star, β And, was batn al-hut, "the Fish's Belly"). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Pisces | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alshain | HR 7602 | 98036 | β Aql | Aql | Applied in recent times (with a misreading in the second word) from abbreviating the Persian asterism name shahin-i tarazu, "the Scale Beam," for α, β and γ Aql. The Persian name, in turn, was a medieval translation of these stars' ind-A name al-mizan, "the Balance" (said to be a popular name for the ind-Arabs' al-nasr al-ti'ir listed under α Aql). | Persian | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Aquila | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Altais | HR 7310 | 94376 | δ Dra | Dra | Applied in recent times from a misreading of the script for the sci-A constellation name al-tinnin, "the Serpent," as it appeared incorrectly in a late sci-A star catalog, as part of the name for δ Dra. (The incorrect word, al-tais, is a real word in Arabic meaning "the He-goat," however it was never used by the ind-Arabs in stellar nomenclature. Furthermore, in the same Arabic source, in the name of ε Dra [formed parallel to that of δ Dra], the word was correctly written al-tinnin.) | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Draco | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Alya | HR 7141 | 92946 | θ1 Ser | Ser | From the Arabic word alya, naming the fatty tail of a breed of Eastern sheep. In Renaissance times this word was erroneously proposed as the origin of Alioth, a Medieval Latin name for ε UMa. The erroneous "Alya" was applied as a star name to θ Ser in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Serpens | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Asterope | HR 1151 | 17579 | 21 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 21/08/2016 | wiki | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
Atlas | HR 1178 | 17847 | 27 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Biham | HR 8450 | 109427 | θ Peg | Peg | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A name sa'd al-biham, for θ and ν Peg. A possible meaning for the name is "the Lucky (Stars) of the Young Beasts [lambs, kids, and the like]," but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Pegasus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Cebalrai | HR 6603 | 86742 | β Oph | Oph | Applied in recent times from its ind-A name kalb al-ra'i, "the Shepherd's Dog" (in other traditions α Her and 28/29 Cep are given the same name). This dog, together with the shepherd (marked by α Oph), and the two lines of stars enclosing the Pasture, and all the dim stellar sheep in that portion of the sky (al-ghanam or al-aghnam for the sheep), seem to form a complete group of ind-A figures. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ophiuchus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Celaeno | HR 1140 | 17489 | 16 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Taurus | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Dabih | HR 7776 | 100345 | β1 Cap | Cap | Applied in recent times from the ind-A lunar mansion name sa'd aldhabih, for α and β Cap. Possible meanings for the name are "the Lucky (Stars) of the Slaughterer," or, "Sa'd, the Slaughtering One" (this last using Sa'd as an unspecified proper name). However the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cap | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Diphda | HR 188 | 3419 | β Cet | Cet | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its ind-A name al-difdi' al-thani, "the Second Frog" (a PsA was the ind-Arabs' "First Frog," al-difdi' al-awwal). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cet | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Dschubba | HR 5953 | 78401 | δ Sco | Sco | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the sci-A name jabhat al-'aqrab, "the Scorpion's Forehead," for β, δ, and π Sco. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sco | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Electra | HR 1142 | 17499 | 17 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Eltanin | HR 6705 | 87833 | γ Dra | Dra | From the ind-A name al-nath, "the Butting (with the horns)," an alternative name for the 1st lunar mansion al-sharatan consisting of β and γ Ari. Some late Arabic authors also applied al-nath as a star name to a Ari. In recent times the name, as "Nath," was wrongly transferred to β Tau, and subsequently it was completed to "Elnath" (adding the Arabic definite article). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Dra | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Hadar | HR 5267 | 68702 | β Cen | Cen | From some ind-A name hadari (an untranslated proper name), for one of a pair of stars, the other one being al-wazn. Sci-A authors ventured to identify these stars as α/β Cen or α/β Col, but exactly what two stars were originally intended, and the significance of their names, is unknown. "Hadar" was arbitrarily applied to β Cen in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cen | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Homam | HR 8634 | 112029 | ζ Peg | Peg | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A name sa'd al-humam, for ζ and ξ Peg. A possible meaning for the name is "the Lucky (Stars) of the Hero," but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Peg | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Izar | HR 5506 | 72105 | ε Boo | Boo | Applied in recent times from the Arabic word izwar, "girdle" or "loin cloth", being a later version of the original term al-mi)zar used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Kitalpha | HR 8131 | 104987 | α Equ | Equ | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name qit'at al-faras, "the Section of the Horse," for Equuleus. Ptolemy had Ἵππου Προτομή, "the First Half of the Horse," for the constellation, because it shows only half the figure (as with the constellations Taurus, Pegasus, and the Greek ship Argo). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Equ | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Kornephoros | HR 6148 | 80816 | β Her | Her | From the Greek word κορυνηφόρος, "club-bearer", mentioned in one Renaissance study as a name for the constellation Hercules. Properly it is of mythological rather than astronomical significance, for Ptolemy's constellation here was "the Kneeler", described without a club. "Kornephoros" was applied as a star name in recent times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Lesath | HR 6508 | 85696 | υ Sco | Sco | The formation of this name begins with the Greek term "(foggy) conglomeration," used by Ptolemy in the Tetrabiblos in describing several nebulous sky objects (in the present case, probably the open cluster M7). Ptolemy's term was translated by the sci-Arabs as al-latkha, "the Spot." This word in turn became transliterated and corrupted in Medieval Latin to alascha, which was used in astrological texts in connection with Scorpius' tail. In Renaissance times, the derivation of alascha was erroneously attributed to the Arabic word las'a, "sting, or bite (of a poisonous animal)," rather than to al-latkha. Subsequently the erroneous word, written as "Lesath," was applied as a star name to u Sco (and in recent times, also to λ Sco). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sco | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Matar | HR 8650 | 112158 | η Peg | Peg | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A name sa'd matar for η and o Peg. Its meaning is unknown. matar has been translated as "rain," and as a common noun in Arabic, al-matar does mean "the rain." However, lack of the definitive article al- for the star points to a use of the word in a sense different from the common noun. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Peg | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Menkent | HR 5288 | 68933 | θ Cen | Cen | Applied in recent times and possibly coined from the Arabic word mankib, "shoulder" (in some recent transliterations: menkib; Ptolemy described this star on the right "shoulder" of the Centaur), plus the Latinized "Kentaurus" for the sci-A constellation name qanturis. Hence this name could be of similar construction to the abbreviation for α Cen: "Rigil Kent." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cen | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Mesarthim | HR 546 | 8832 | γ1 Ari | Ari | The formation of this name begins with the Arabic lunar mansion name al-sharatan, for β and γ Ari. From the numerous medieval lists of the Arabic lunar mansions (all in Latin transliteration), the Renaissance scholar Johannes Bayer grasped the form Sartai, and used it for the three brighter stars α, β and γ Ari. Bayer also erroneously explained Sartai as from the Hebrew word mesharethim, "servants", rather than from al-sharatan. Subsequently, Bayer's erroneous word, written as "Mesarthim", was applied as a star name. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Mothallah | HR 544 | 8796 | α Tri | Tri | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name al-muthallath, "the Triangle," for Triangulum. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Tri | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Muliphein | HR 2657 | 34045 | γ CMa | CMa | The formation of this name begins with the Arabic names hadari and al-wazn. In Arabic discussions of these names it came to be said that they were muhlifan, meaning "two [things] causing dispute [in this case as to these stars' identification] and the swearing of an oath". From this usage, al-muhlifan was wrongly taken as a name for hadari and al-wazn together. Transliterated and further mutilated as "Muliphein", the name was arbitrarily applied to the single star γ CMa in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Naos | HR 3165 | 39429 | ζ Pup | Pup | Applied in recent times from the word ναῦς, Greek for the "ship", used in one Renaissance discussion as a name for the ancient constellation Argo (since divided into Puppis, Carina, and Vela). | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Nashira | HR 8278 | 106985 | γ Cap | Cap | Applied in recent times from the ind-A name sa<d nashira, for γ and δ Cap. Its meaning is unknown. As originally applied, γ was "Nashira Prima" and δ was "Nashira Posterior." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cap | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Nekkar | HR 5602 | 73555 | β Boo | Boo | Applied in recent times from a misreading of the Arabic constellation name al-baqqar, "the Ox-driver", for Boötes. | corrupted | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Nunki | HR 7121 | 92855 | σ Sgr | Sgr | ᵐᵘˡNUN.KI or ᵐᵘˡNUNᴷᴵ = the star or constellation of Eridu where Eridu is one of the first big cities known. Archealogical proofs date back to the 3rd millennium (Sumer). It is located at the southern coast of Mesopotamia. The identification of the star or asterism is highly uncertain: it is often identified with Canopus and adjacent areas or "somewhere in Argo". ᵐᵘˡNUN.KI is listed in MUL.APIN and there, it seems to refer to the area of Aquarius with unknown identification (Canopus not excluded) but the identification with other Babylonian texts seems to propose only in the northern part of modern Argo, i.e. Vela. The Euphratean name "Nunki" was mentioned and associated with Sigma Sgr in Robert Brown, Jr. (1892, Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, Volume 14, p. 298; "Nun-ki", "Prince-of-the-Earth"), and its use diffused through the 20th century after being mentioned in Richard Hinckley Allen's (Star Names, their lore and meaning, p. 359). The modern Nunki is, thus, not identical with the Sumerian one; it is one of the many misapplications. | Sumerian | MUL.APIN I ii 20 (Hunger+Steele 2019), Horowitz, W. (2018) ‘Communication and miscommunication in the southern sky’, in Registers and Modes of Communication in the Ancient Near East. 1st edn. Routledge, pp. 69–84. Robert Brown, Jr. (1892, Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, Volume 14, p. 298. Richard Hinckley Allen's (Star Names, their lore and meaning, p. 359). | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Pherkad | HR 5735 | 75097 | γ UMi | UMi | Applied in recent times from the singular form of the ind-A asterism name al-farqadan, "the Two Calves," for β and γ UMi. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMi | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Proxima Centauri | GJ 551 | 70890 | α Cen | Cen | Its recent Latin name meaning "the Nearest", as this component of the system is currently the nearest star to our solar system. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Rastaban | HR 6536 | 85670 | β Dra | Dra | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the sci-A name ra's al-tinnin, "the Serpent's Head," for γ Dra. Transferred to β Dra in recent times (originally Ptolemy had γ Dra on the "head," and β more specifically on the "eye"). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Dra | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Ruchbah | HR 403 | 6686 | δ Cas | Cas | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name rukbat dhat al-kursiy, "the Knee of the Lady of the Chair." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cas | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Sabik | HR 6378 | 84012 | η Oph | Oph | Applied in recent times from its ind-A name al-sabiq, of uncertain meaning or connection. The name might mean literally "the Preceding One" or "the One Arriving First in a Race". Other sources give the name in the dualis form (for the two stars ζ and η Oph), and in the plural form (for more than two stars). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Oph | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Sadachbia | HR 8518 | 110395 | γ Aqr | Aqr | Applied in recent times from the Arabic lunar mansion name sa(d al-akhbiya, for γ, π, ζ and η Aqr. A possible meaning for the name is "the Lucky (Stars) of the Tents", but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Sadalbari | HR 8684 | 112748 | μ Peg | Peg | Applied in recent times from the ind-A name sa'd al-bari', for λ and μ Peg. A possible meaning for the name is "the Lucky (Stars) of the Excelling One," but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Peg | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Sadalmelik | HR 8414 | 109074 | α Aqr | Aqr | Applied in recent times from the Arabic name sa(d al-malik, for α and ο Aqr. A possible meaning for the name is "the Lucky (Stars) of the King", but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Sadalsuud | HR 8232 | 106278 | β Aqr | Aqr | Applied in recent times from the Arabic lunar mansion name sa(d al-su(ud, for β and ξ Aqr, and 46 Cap. A possible meaning for the name is "the Luckiest of the Lucky (Stars)", but the exact historical connections are unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Sadr | HR 7796 | 100453 | γ Cyg | Cyg | "Breast" in Arabic | Arabic | Cyg | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Sargas | HR 6553 | 86228 | θ Sco | Sco | MUL.SHAR.GAZ, "mul" is the Sumerian designator for stars and constellations, "Shargaz" and "Sharur" are two weapons of Marduk (the city god of Babylon and highest god of the Babylonian pantheon after 1250 BCE). The line I ii 31-32 in MUL.APIN read: "Two stars which stand in the sting of the Scorpion: Sharur and Shargaz", so these star names have originally been given to the stars lambda and upsilon Sco. The Mesopotamian name "Sargas" was linked to the star Theta Sco by Robert Brown Jr. (1893; "Euphratean Stellar Researches Part II.") and its subsequent mention in R. H. Allen's (1899) "Star-names and Their Meanings" popularized its subsequent use. | Sumerian | MUL.APIN I ii 31-32 (Hunger+Steele (2019)), Horowitz, W. (2018) ‘Communication and miscommunication in the southern sky’, in Registers and Modes of Communication in the Ancient Near East. 1st edn. Routledge, pp. 69–84. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Schedar | HR 168 | 3179 | α Cas | Cas | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the Arabic word al-sadr, "the breast," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cas | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Seginus | HR 5435 | 71075 | γ Boo | Boo | The formation of this name begins with the Greek constellation name βοώτης (Boötes), which was transliterated and then corrupted in the manuscripts of the Arabic Almagest. One of these corruptions, in turn, was transliterated into Latin as theguius, which became further corrupted into cheguius, ceginus, etc. One form, Ceginus, was applied as a star name by late medieval times, and "Seginus" is its recent spelling. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Sheliak | HR 7106 | 92420 | β Lyr | Lyr | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name al-salbaq, "the Harp," for Lyra. salbaq was a Greek loanword in Arabia, and was one of three names of musical instruments used by the sci-Arabs for Lyra. Still other names were alsulalfat, and al-lura. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lyr | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Skat | HR 8709 | 113136 | δ Aqr | Aqr | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the Arabic word al-saq, "the shin", used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Suhail | HR 3634 | 44816 | λ Vel | Vel | Applied in recent times and representing an abbreviation of any of several composite ind-A names (for example suhail al-wazn, suhail al-muhlif) that sci-A authors variously attributed to brighter stars in the region of suhail. A Vel was among these brighter stars. Some of the composite names may have been authentic ind-A names for far-southern stars, with their true identities unknown to the more northern sci-Arabs, while others of them were surely the creations of ind-A poets. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Vel | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Sulafat | HR 7178 | 93194 | γ Lyr | Lyr | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name al-sulabfat, "the Tortoise," for Lyra, corresponding to the Greek image of a tortoise shell for the Lyre's soundboard. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lyr | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Tarazed | HR 7525 | 97278 | γ Aql | Aql | Applied in recent times (with a misreading) from abbreviating the Persian asterism name shanin-i tarazu, "the Scale Beam", for α, β and γ Aql. The Persian name, in turn, was a medieval translation of these stars' Arabic name al-mizan, "the Balance". | Persian | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Taygeta | HR 1145 | 17531 | 19 Tau | Tau | These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 21/08/2016 | ||||||
Unukalhai | HR 5854 | 77070 | α Ser | Ser | Applied in recent times from its sci-A name 'unuq al-hayya, "the Serpent's Neck." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Ser | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Wasat | HR 2777 | 35550 | δ Gem | Gem | From the Arabic word wasat, "middle," used by a sci-A commentator who was speculating on the meaning of the ind-A constellation name al-jauza'. Reference was made to al-jauza's being in the "middle" (wasat) of the sky (perhaps meaning the celestial equator). The reference was intended to apply to the ind-A figure located in today's Orion, however it was under the constellation which is today Gemini that the reference appeared (note the confusion between Orion and Gemini mentioned under α Ori). Therefore, after transliteration into Latin, it was in Gemini (to δ) that the word "Wasat" was arbitrarily applied as a star name in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Gem | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Yildun | HR 6789 | 85822 | δ UMi | UMi | From the Turkish word yildiz, "star." In Renaissance times this common noun was erroneously said to be a Turkish name for the Pole Star (α UMi). Misspelled as "Yildun," the word was arbitrarily applied as a star name to δ UMi in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | UMi | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Zavijava | HR 4540 | 57757 | β Vir | Vir | From a contraction of the ind-A name zawiyat al-'awwa', "the Angle of al-'awwa'," for γ Vir. Wrongly transferred to β Vir in recent times. The stars β, η, γ, and ε Vir marked the ind-A lunar mansion al-'awwa' (with γ in its "angle"), but the meaning of al-'awwa' is unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Vir | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Zubenelgenubi | HR 5531 | 72622 | α2 Lib | Lib | Applied in Renaissance times from its sci-A name al-zubana al-janubi, the Southern Claw ( of the Scorpion)." The stars of Libra were interpreted by the Baby!onians as "the Claws of Scorpius" (thus forming a much larger Scorpion), and alternatively (perhaps in a more recent stage) they were made an independent constellation, "the Balance." Both these conceptions lived on until the Greeks and, partly, the ind-Arabs. Previous to Greek influences, the ind-Arabs used the name al-zubanayan, "the Two Claws ( of the Scorpion}," for the lunar mansion marked by α and β Lib. (Ind-A al-zubanayan is obviously related etymologically to Babylonian zibanutu, but the latter, also marked by α and β Lib, meant "the Balance"). Our modern name is occasionally seen abbreviated as Zuben'ubi". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lib | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Zubeneschamali | HR 5685 | 74785 | β Lib | Lib | Applied in Renaissance times from its sci-A name al-zubana alshamali, "the Northern Claw (of the Scorpion)". | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Lib | 21/08/2016 | |||||
Albali | HR 7950 | 102618 | ε Aqr | Aqr | From the Arabic word bali(, "swallower", used in an Arabic discussion pertaining to the Arabic lunar mansion name sa(d bula( (given for ε, μ and ν Aqr; of unknown meaning). In recent times the Arabic article al- was added to bali( and the word was applied as a star name. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Aquarius | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Alchiba | HR 4623 | 59199 | α Crv | Crv | -- | -- | Corvus | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Alkes | HR 4287 | 53740 | α Crt | Crt | Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the sci-A constellation name al-ka's, "the (Wine) Cup," for Crater. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Crater | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Ancha | HR 8499 | 110003 | θ Aqr | Aqr | A Latin word meaning "hip", used in the Medieval Latin Almagest in describing σ and ι/38 Aqr in the right and left hips, respectively (following an error, for Ptolemy had these stars in "the buttocks"). The word was applied as a star name to θ Aqr (correctly in Ptolemy's "right socket of the hip") in recent times. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Aquarius | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Ascella | HR 7194 | 93506 | ζ Sgr | Sgr | ascella ("armpit"). Although it appeared in the 1515 Almagest, the name does not appear to have come into common usage until the 20th century after appearing as Ascella in Richard Hinckley Allen's "Star Names Their Lore and Meaning" (1899). | Latin | Ptolemaeus. (1515). Almagestū Cl[audii] Ptolemei Pheludiensis Alexandrini Astronomo[rum] principis : opus ingens ac nobile omnes celorū motus continens ... Liechtenstein, Petrus. p.84. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Atik | HR 1131 | 17448 | ο Per | Per | Applied in recent times (also to ζ Per), from an abbreviation of the ind-A name 'atiq al-thurayya, "the Collarbone of the Pleiades," for ο and ζ Per, after their location in the ind-A asterism here | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Perseus | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Azelfafage | HR 8301 | 107136 | π1 Cyg | Cyg | From the sci-A constellation name al-sulahfat, "the Tortoise," for Lyra ( corresponding to the Greek image of a tortoise shell for the Lyre's soundboard). Transliterated as Azelfage, a Medieval Latin translator erroneously attributed this constellation name to Cygnus. Then in Renaissance times, the corruption "Azelfafage" was applied as a star name to π1 Cyg. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cygnus | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Azha | HR 874 | 13701 | η Eri | Eri | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A asterism name udhi al-na'am, "the Ostrich's Nest," for ζ, ρ2,3, η and τ1 Eri, and ε and π Cet. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eridanus | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Baten Kaitos | HR 539 | 8645 | ζ Cet | Cet | Applied in recent times from its sci-A name batn qaitus, "the Sea Monster's Belly." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cetus | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Beid | HR 1298 | 19587 | ο1 Eri | Eri | Applied in recent times from the ind-A name al-baid, "the Eggs" for unspecified dim stars around the ind-A ostrich's nest. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eridanus | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Botein | HR 951 | 14838 | δ Ari | Ari | Applied in recent times from the ind-A lunar mansion name al-butain, "the Little Belly", for δ, ϵ and ρ Ari. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Aries | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Grumium | HR 6688 | 87585 | ξ Dra | Dra | A Late Latin word (its correct spelling should be grunnum) meaning "snout" or "muzzle (especially of a pig)", used in the Medieval Latin Almagest in describing this star. The word was applied as a star name in recent times. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Keid | HR 1325 | 19849 | ο2 Eri | Eri | Applied in recent times from the ind-A name al-qaid, "the Egg Shells," for unspecified stars around the ind-A ostrich's nest. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eri | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Kurhah | HR 8417 | 108917 | ξ Cep | Cep | Applied in recent times from one vocalization of its ind-A name: al-qurha, "the White Spot on the Forehead of a Horse." However, the original Arabic script for the name can be read and vocalized in other ways with various meanings. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cep | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Maasym | HR 6526 | 85693 | λ Her | Her | From the Arabic word al-mi'sam, "the wrist," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing o Her. Wrongly transferred to λ Her in Renaissance times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Her | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Marfik | HR 6149 | 80883 | λ Oph | Oph | Applied since medieval times from the Arabic word al-marfiq, "the elbow," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. While the medieval transliteration was marsic (with a confusion of f and the long-shaped s), Marfik is an improved spelling of recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Oph | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Mekbuda | HR 2650 | 34088 | ζ Gem | Gem | From an abbreviation of the ind-A asterism name dhira' al-asad al-maqbuqa, "the Lion's Folded Paw". Arbitrarily applied as a star name to ζ Gem in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Gem | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Menkib | HR 1228 | 18614 | ξ Per | Per | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its ind-A name mankib al-thurayya, "the Shoulder of the Pleiades," for its location in the ind-A asterism here. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Per | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Merga | HR 5533 | 72487 | 38 Boo | Boo | A Latin word meaning "reaping hook," used in a Renaissance discussion of the constellation Bootes. According to this discussion, some classical sources mentioned a reaping hook held in Bootes' hand opposite the staff. Subsequently the word was applied as a star name to hBoo. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Muphrid | HR 5235 | 67927 | η Boo | Boo | The formation of this name begins with the ancient Arabic name for α Boo: al-simak al-ramih, "the Lance-bearing simak" (the meaning of simak is uncertain). It seems that later Arabic poets expanded upon this name by making mention of some separate "lance" (al-rumh) that accompanied the star α Boo. Subsequent Arabs attempted to identify this fictitious lance with actual stars, sometimes saying it was η Boo with nearby stars, sometimes saying it was "η Boo alone" (where "alone", in arabic, is written mufradan). From these discussions came, with a slight copying mistake in the Arabic, the erroneous Arabic name mufrad al-ramih, roughly translating as "the Isolated Single One of the Lance-Bearer". With a wrong vocalization and with abbreviation, this erroneous name, as "Muphrid", was applied in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Nusakan | HR 5747 | 75695 | β CrB | CrB | Applied in recent times from the collective ind-A name al-nasaqan, "the Two Lines [of stars]" for two asterisms in today's Hercules, Serpens, Ophiuchus, and Lyra. al-nasaqan originally marked the boundaries of the ind-Arabs' al-rauda, "the Pasture". These boundaries were "the Northern Line" al-nasaq al-sha'ami, and "the Southern Line" al-nasaq al-yamani. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | CrB | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Rasalas | HR 3905 | 48455 | μ Leo | Leo | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name ra's alasad (al-shamali), "(the Northern [Part] of) the Lion's Head." As originally applied, μ Leo was "Rasalasad Borealis" abbreviated in the first Western astronomical source as "Rasalas. Bor.," for lack of space in the line), and ε Leo was "Rasalasad Australis" (after the sci-A). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Rotanev | HR 7882 | 101769 | β Del | Del | Nicolaus Venator, responsible for 1814 star catalogue) | Latin | Palermo Star Catalogue (1814), p.147 | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Sarin | HR 6410 | 84379 | δ Her | Her | Name of unknown etymology from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). It is probably a part of the body. The word probably is not of Semit's origin, | unknown | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Sham | HR 7479 | 96757 | α Sge | Sge | Applied in recent times from the sci-A constellation name al-sahm, "the Arrow," for Sagitta. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sge | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Situla | HR 8610 | 111710 | κ Aqr | Aqr | A Latin word meaning "pot" or "bucket", used in Renaissance philological studies as the translation of the Arabic constellation name al-dalw, for Aquarius. Subsequently the word was applied as a star name to k Aqr. The Arabs located al-dalw ("the Well Bucket") in today's Square of Pegasus. In that location it corresponded to what in other cultures was Aquarius among the zodiacal signs. The Arabs subsequently used the indigenous name al-dalw for the Greek Water Pourer (Aquarius). | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Sualocin | HR 7906 | 101958 | α Del | Del | Nicolaus Venator, responsible for 1814 star catalogue) | Latin | Palermo Star Catalogue (1814), p.147 | reversed Latin | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Subra | HR 3852 | 47508 | ο Leo | Leo | From the ind-A lunar mansion name al-zubra, "the Mane, or Shoulder," for δ and θ Leo, associated with the ind-A asterism al-asad (see ε Gem; al-zubra was an alternative name for al-kharatan given under θ Leo). "Subra" was wrongly applied as a star name too Leo in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Syrma | HR 5338 | 69701 | ι Vir | Vir | From the Greek word σύρμα, "train of a dress", used by Ptolemy in the Almagest in describing this star. The word was applied as a star name in recent times. | Greek | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 12/09/2016 | ||||||
Tegmine | HR 3208 | 40167 | ζ Cnc | Cnc | A Latin word in the ablative case meaning "covering" or "shell", used in a Renaissance discussion of the constellation Cancer. The word was subsequently applied as a star name to ζ Cnc. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | The name should be "Tegmen", in the nominative case. | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Tureis | HR 3185 | 39757 | ρ Pup | Pup | From the Arabic word al-turais, "the Little Shield," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing several stars (ρ Pup not among them) in the constellation Argo. Wrongly applied as a star name to ρ Pup in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Pup | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Zaniah | HR 4689 | 60129 | η Vir | Vir | From an abbreviation of the ind-A name zawiyat al-'awwa', "the Angle of al-'awwa'," for γ Vir. Wrongly transferred to η Vir in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Vir | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Zibal | HR 984 | 15197 | ζ Eri | Eri | Applied in recent times from a misreading of the ind-A name al-ri'al, "the Young of the Ostriches," for the numerous dim stars running between α Eri and α PsA (or, according to another tradition, those within the triangle formed by α Phe/α PsA/β Cet). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Eri | 12/09/2016 | |||||
Arkab Posterior | HR 7343 | 95294 | β2 Sgr | Sgr | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name 'urqub al-rami, "the Archer's Achilles Tendon." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sagittarius | 05/10/2016 | |||||
Arkab Prior | HR 7337 | 95241 | β1 Sgr | Sgr | Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name 'urqub al-rami, "the Archer's Achilles Tendon." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Sagittarius | 05/10/2016 | |||||
Yed Posterior | HR 6075 | 79882 | ε Oph | Oph | Originally from the Arabic word al-yad, "the hand," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing these stars. yed was applied as a star name to δ Oph in medieval times. Then in recent times, this application was extended to include both δ and ε, with the addition of the Latin distinctions for "foremost" and "hindmost," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Oph | 05/10/2016 | |||||
Asellus Australis | HR 3461 | 42911 | δ Cnc | Cnc | From their joint Roman name the Aselli (and also Asini), "the Asses" of "Donkeys", being a translation of these stars' Greek name. Reapplied in Renaissance times, along with the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern". | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cancer | 06/11/2016 | |||||
Asellus Borealis | HR 3449 | 42806 | γ Cnc | Cnc | From their joint Roman name the Aselli (and also Asini), "the Asses" of "Donkeys", being a translation of these stars' Greek name. Reapplied in Renaissance times, along with the Latin distinctions of "northern" and "southern". | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cancer | 06/11/2016 | |||||
Gienah | HR 4662 | 59803 | γ Crv | Crv | A name transferred from γ Crv in recent times, where the Arabic word janab means "wing" (in the Almagest, both ε Cyg and γ Crv lie on the wings of their respective constellations) | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Crv | 06/11/2016 | |||||
Rigil Kentaurus | HR 5459 | 71683 | α Cen | Cen | Applied in recent times from its sci-A name rijl qanturis, "the Centaur's Foot". Today the name is occasionally seen abbreviated as "Rigil Kent." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cen | 06/11/2016 | |||||
Yed Prior | HR 6056 | 79593 | δ Oph | Oph | Originally from the Arabic word al-yad, "the hand," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing these stars. yed was applied as a star name to δ Oph in medieval times. Then in recent times, this application was extended to include both δ and ε, with the addition of the Latin distinctions for "foremost" and "hindmost," respectively. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Oph | 06/11/2016 | |||||
Almaaz | HR 1605 | 23416 | ε Aur | Aur | -- | -- | Auriga | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Alniyat | HR 6084 | 80112 | σ Sco | Sco | Applied in recent times from the ind-A name al-niyat, "the Arteries", for σ and τ Sco. α Sco, between the arteries, was the ind-A qalb al'aqrab, "the Scorpion's Heart" (all were part of the ind-A Scorpion). | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Scorpius | 01/02/2017 | |||||
Alrakis | HR 6370 | 83608 | μ Dra | Dra | Applied in recent times from its ind-A name al-raqis, "the Trotting Camel." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Draco | 01/02/2017 | |||||
Alterf | HR 3773 | 46750 | λ Leo | Leo | Applied in recent times from the ind-A lunar mansion name al-tarf, "the Glance," for κ Cnc and λ Leo, associated with the ind-A asterism al-asad, as if being located on that lion's eyes. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Leo | 01/02/2017 | |||||
Barnard's Star | GJ 699 | 87937 | V2500 Oph | Oph | Named after American astronomer E. E. Barnard who first measured the record high proper motion for this star in 1916, the name started appearing in the astronomical literature in the follow-up studies of the star and came into common use starting in the 1920s. | Contemporary | E.C. Pickering 1916, Popular Astronomy, 24, 690 reported multiple news items with title "Parallax of Barnard's Star with Large Proper Motion" summarizing letters from Frank Schlesinger, Director of Allegheny Observatory, and Prof. Henry Norris Russell, Princeton University, summarizing preliminary parallax estimates for the star. | Ophiuchus | 01/02/2017 | |||||
Cujam | HR 6117 | 80463 | ω Her | Her | From the Latin word caiam, "club" (in the accusative case), supposedly used in a classical poem alluding to the mythological figure Hercules, not the constellation. The word was applied as a star name in Renaissance times. | Latin | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | It should be correctly spelled "Caia", in the nominative case. | 01/02/2017 | |||||
Deneb Algedi | HR 8322 | 107556 | δ Cap | Cap | "Tail of the Goat" in Arabic | Arabic | 01/02/2017 | |||||||
Diadem | HR 4968 | 64241 | α Com | Com | Contemporary | -- | 01/02/2017 | |||||||
Giausar | HR 4434 | 56211 | λ Dra | Dra | From the Persian word jauzahr, a technical term designating the nodes of the moon's or any planet's orbit. Erroneously applied as a star name to λ Dra in recent times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Kaffaljidhma | HR 804 | 12706 | γ Cet | Cet | -- | -- | 01/02/2017 | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Marsic | HR 6008 | 79043 | κ Her | Her | Applied in medieval times from the Arabic word al-marfiq, "the elbow," used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Tejat | HR 2286 | 30343 | μ Gem | Gem | From the Arabic word tihyat, said to be the singular form of al-tahayi, an ind-A name of unknown meaning and disputed identification. In some sources, the plural al-tahayi is assigned to η, μ, and v Gem. As originally applied in recent times, η was "Tejat Prior," and μ was Tejat Posterior." | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Theemin | HR 1464 | 21393 | υ2 Eri | Eri | The formation of this name begins with one of the words used by Ptolemy to describe this star in the Almagest: καμπή, "the bend [of the river]". This was misread by the sci-Arabs, who transliterated the word as bhmn. This, in turn, was transliterated as beemun in the Medieval Latin Almagest, which was corrupted to beemin, beemim, etc. Then in Renaissance times, the derivation of the form beemim was erroneously attributed to the Hebrew word te'omim, "twins." Subsequently this erroneous word, written as Theemim, then "Theemin," was applied as a star name to any of the various dim stars running from u1 to h Eri. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 01/02/2017 | ||||||
Alsafi | HR 7462 | 96100 | σ Dra | Dra | Arabic | -- | Draco | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Alsciaukat | HR 3275 | 41075 | 31 Lyn | Lyn | Arabic | -- | Lynx | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Alshat | HR 7773 | 100310 | ν Cap | Cap | Arabic | -- | Capricornus | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Alzirr | HR 2484 | 32362 | ξ Gem | Gem | -- | -- | Gemini | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Angetenar | HR 850 | 13288 | τ2 Eri | Eri | -- | -- | Eridanus | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Anser | HR 7405 | α Vul | Vul | Johannes & Elisabetha Hevelius created “Vulpecula cum Ansere” (the Little Fox with the Goose) out of unformed stars in the space between Cygnus and Aquila. The constellation first appeared in Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687) and the accompanying introductory text, Prodromus astronomiae (1690). To emphasize that it was his own creation, Hevelius dedicated Figure L to the pair, shown as a detail in Fig. 3.1. In atlases published before Hevelius, its stars are shown simply marking the flow of the Milky Way through the area. Ian Ridpath (1989) noted that “Hevelius placed the fox near two other hunting animals, the eagle (the constellation Aquila) and the vulture (which was an alternative identification for Lyra). He explained that the fox was taking the goose to neighbouring Cerberus, another of his inventions.”unnamed before. | Latin | Firmamentum Sobiescianum sive Uranographia (1687) | Vulpecula | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Beemim | HR 1393 | 20535 | υ3 Eri | Eri | Spelling variations of this name appeared in medieval sources for star 29 in Eridanus in the Almagest (Upsilon3 Eri), with the Alfonsine Tables (1492, Tabule Astronomice Alfonsi Regis) spelling it as "Beemim". | corrupted | Ptolemaeus. (1515). Almagestū Cl[audii] Ptolemei Pheludiensis Alexandrini Astronomo[rum] principis : opus ingens ac nobile omnes celorū motus continens ... Liechtenstein, Petrus. | Eridanus | 30/06/2017 | |||||
Bharani | HR 838 | 6193 | 41 Ari | Ari | Indian | -- | Aries | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Fang | HR 5944 | 78265 | π Sco | Sco | determinitive star of lunar mansion Fang (The Room) whose naming constellation constists of 4 stars according to sources back to the 3rd millennium BCE. | Chinese | Lunar Mansion | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Fulu | HR 153 | 2920 | ζ Cas | Cas | traditional Chinese single star asterism: an auxiliary road to Gedao; also represents the chief assistant to maintain roads. Gedao (the flying corridor) is a long chain of stars next to the Purple Palace enclosure constellation. Paradoxically, the auxiliary road is considered a single star asterism as attested in several historical star charts (e.g. the famous Suzhou map). Sun and Kistemaker (1997) who studied sources from the Han dynasty (around the year "0" plusminus 200 years) identify ζ Cas with this single star. Another researcher, Sun Shuwei, who dealt with the Xinyixiangfayao Star Map from Su Song (苏颂, 1020-1101 CE) identifies δ Cas. Both is plausible. | Chinese | Shi shi xingjing (Star Catalogue of the Shi Shi) | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Fuyue | HR 6630 | 87261 | G Sco | Sco | traditional Chinese single star asterism: a legendary wise minister of the Yin or Shang dynasty, 18th century BCE. According to Rufus and Tien (1945), sometimes called the invocator (regarding faults). Sun and Kistemaker (1997) quote Sima Qian that Fu Yue was a chancellor of Emperor Wu Ding of the Yin dynasty but they admit that the could also represent a shaman in the royal harem helping to produce sons. The ancient star name is typically identified with the bright star G Sco. | Chinese | Shi shi xingjing (Star Catalogue of the Shi Shi) | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Haedus | HR 1641 | 23767 | η Aur | Aur | The Almagest star catalogue gives for n Aur: τῶν ἑπι τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ καρπού β καλοvμένων Ἐρίϕωv ὁ ἑπόμενος (The rearmost of the two stars on the left wrist, which are called 'Haedi'). The Latin term "Haedi" is a translation of Greek Ἐρίϕωv and plural of "Haedus" meaning "young goat(s)". | Latin | Almagest (e.g. translated by Toomer 1984, page 353, edition by Heiberg II, 66) | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Hassaleh | HR 1577 | 23015 | ι Aur | Aur | hasa means in Arabic - handsome or good or benefactor, hassa (with doubled s) is from the same Arabic root, has long vowel (second a) and its meaning is "doer of good" or "benefactor", the end of name "-eh" (or "-ah") could mean femininum. Name from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). | Arabic | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Jabbah | HR 6027 | 79374 | ν Sco | Sco | Arabic | -- | 30/06/2017 | |||||||
Kang | HR 5315 | 69427 | κ Vir | Vir | determinitive star of lunar mansion Kang (The Neck) whose naming constellation constists of 4 stars according to sources back to the 3rd millennium BCE | Chinese | Lunar Mansion | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Mahasim | HR 2095 | 28380 | θ Aur | Aur | -- | -- | 30/06/2017 | |||||||
Markab | HR 8781 | 113963 | α Peg | Peg | From an abbreviation of the sci-A name mankib al-faras, "the Horse's Shoulder," for β Peg. Wrongly transferred to α Peg in late medieval times. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Minelauva | HR 4910 | 63090 | δ Vir | Vir | -- | -- | 30/06/2017 | |||||||
Praecipua | HR 4247 | 53229 | 46 LMi | LMi | Latin | -- | 30/06/2017 | |||||||
Revati | HR 361 | 5737 | ζ Psc | Psc | Indian | -- | 30/06/2017 | |||||||
Saclateni | HR 1612 | 23453 | ζ Aur | Aur | Eta and Zeta Aurigae, the 8th and 9th stars of Auriga in the Almagest, were referred to as "the kids" - Eriphoi (Greek), Haedi (Latin), al-Jadayain (Arabic; al-Sufi). Hyginus (Poetica Astronomica, 2. 13) mentions the Greek astronomer Cleostratus of Tenedos (5th cen. BC) pointed out "the kids" among the stars. "Saclateni" appeared in the Alfonsine Tables ("Tabule astronomice Alfonsi Regis", 1492 print) and may be a corrupted Latinization of the Arabic Gadi-thani, "second kid" (Mesnard 1949, "Les noms arabes d'étoiles", Ciel et Terre, Vol. 65, p. 70) | Latin | Ptolemaeus. (1515). Almagestū Cl[audii] Ptolemei Pheludiensis Alexandrini Astronomo[rum] principis : opus ingens ac nobile omnes celorū motus continens ... Liechtenstein, Petrus. | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Sceptrum | HR 1481 | 21594 | 53 Eri | Eri | from the obsolete constellation of Sceptrum Brandenburgicum | Latin | Acta Eruditorum (1688) p.452 | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Taiyangshou | HR 4518 | 57399 | χ UMa | UMa | traditional Chinese single star asterism: Taiyangshou means "The Guardian of the Great Yang" and is the general in charge of the yang valve, symbolising Chief Minister. Xu, Pankenier and Jiang (2000) and Sun Shuwei (Stellarium) evaluating the medieval Song map, both identify chi UMa but Sun and Kistemaker (1997) studying the Han dynasty identify psi UMa. | Chinese | Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Taiyi | HR 4916 | 63076 | 8 Dra | Dra | single star asterism: August Unity, Supreme One | Chinese | Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Tianguan | HR 1910 | 26451 | ζ Tau | Tau | Chinese single star asterism, a celestial pass along the ecliptic which opens and closes | Chinese | Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Tianyi | HR 4863 | 62423 | 7 Dra | Dra | Chinese single star asterism: heavenly unity | Chinese | Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Xuange | HR 5351 | 69732 | λ Boo | Boo | single star asterism: a halberd, the celestial lance or north lance. | Chinese | Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Zhang | HR 3903 | 48356 | υ1 Hya | Hya | determinitive star of lunar mansion Zhang (The Stomach [of the Red Fire Bird] or a Bow or Bird Catcher, an Extended Net, Spread or "to open") whose naming constellation constists of 6 stars according to sources back to the 3rd millennium BCE | Chinese | Lunar Mansion | 30/06/2017 | ||||||
Achird | HR 219 | 3821 | η Cas | Cas | The proper name Achird was apparently first applied to Eta Cassiopeiae in the Skalnate Pleso Atlas of the Heavens published in Slovacia in 1950, but is not known prior to that. | Contemporary | -- | Cassiopeia | 05/09/2017 | |||||
Ainalrami | HR 7116 | 92761 | ν1 Sgr | Sgr | -- | -- | Sagittarius | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Aladfar | HR 7298 | 94481 | η Lyr | Lyr | -- | -- | Lyra | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Albaldah | HR 7264 | 94141 | π Sgr | Sgr | -- | -- | Sagittarius | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Aldhanab | HR 8353 | 108085 | γ Gru | Gru | -- | -- | Grus | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Aldhibah | HR 6396 | 83895 | ζ Dra | Dra | -- | -- | Draco | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Aldulfin | HR 7852 | 101421 | ε Del | Del | -- | -- | Delphinus | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Alkaphrah | HR 3594 | 44471 | κ UMa | UMa | Arabic | -- | Ursa Major | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Alkarab | HR 8905 | 115623 | υ Peg | Peg | Arabic | -- | Pegasus | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Alsephina | HR 3485 | 42913 | δ Vel | Vel | Arabic | -- | Vela | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Athebyne | HR 6132 | 80331 | η Dra | Dra | -- | -- | Draco | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Brachium | HR 5603 | 73714 | σ Lib | Lib | Graeco-Latin | -- | Libra | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Castula | HR 265 | 4422 | υ2 Cas | Cas | Castula is Latin for a type of woman's tunic. Bayer (1603, Uranometria) attributes the name "castulum" to Nonius (Portugese scholar Pedro Nunez, 1502-1578), with the Greek alias ταινίαν for a ribbon. | Latin | Johann Bayer (1603). Uranometria. | Cassiopeia | 05/09/2017 | |||||
Chamukuy | HR 1412 | 20894 | θ2 Tau | Tau | The Yucatec Maya identify Theta Tauri as chamukuy, the name of a small bird. | Yucatec | Milbrath, Susan (1999). Star Gods of the Maya. p.253.; Sosa, John (1985). The Maya Sky, the Maya World: A Symbolic Analysis of Yucatec Maya Cosmology. p.341. | Taurus | 05/09/2017 | |||||
Dalim | HR 963 | 14879 | α For | For | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Dziban | HR 6636 | 86614 | ψ1 Dra | Dra | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Hatysa | HR 1899 | 26241 | ι Ori | Ori | Name of unknown etymology from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). | unknown | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Iklil | HR 5928 | 78104 | ρ Sco | Sco | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Khambalia | HR 5359 | 69974 | λ Vir | Vir | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Lilii Borea | HR 824 | 13061 | 39 Ari | Ari | Lacaille used the now obsolete constellation Lilium (The Lily) and named this star "in the north of Lily", in Latin: Lilii Borea | Latin | Lacaille, N.L. de (1757) Astronomiae fundamenta novissimis Solis et stellarum observationibus stabilita Lutetiæ in collegio Mazarinæo et in Africa ad Caput Bonæ Spei peractis. p.233. | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Markeb | HR 3734 | 45941 | κ Vel | Vel | Evidently from the Arabic word markab, "a ship or any vehicle," presumably standing for the Greek constellation name Argo. However, sci-A sources do not mention markab for Argo, only al-safina ("the Ship"), hence the ultimate origin of the name remains a mystery. "Markeb" was applied as a star name to ρ Pup in medieval times, to κ Pup in Renaissance rimes, and finally to κ Vel in recent times when Argo was divided into its four modern constellations | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Meleph | HR 3429 | 42556 | ε Cnc | Cnc | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Meridiana | HR 7254 | 94114 | α CrA | CrA | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Minchir | HR 3418 | 42402 | σ Hya | Hya | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Miram | HR 834 | 13268 | η Per | Per | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Misam | HR 941 | 14668 | κ Per | Per | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Nembus | HR 464 | 7607 | 51 And | And | Name appears in Bayer's (1603) Uranometria for Upsilon Per (later designated 51 And), which he states is of Arab origin, however the name appears to be Latin not Arabic. From the description it appears that the name appears to be connected with the adamntine harpe sword Perseus used to decapitate Medusa. | Latin? | Bayer (1603, 11), Bode (1801) | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Nganurganity | HR 2646 | 33856 | σ CMa | CMa | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Pipirima | HR 6252 | 82545 | μ2 Sco | Sco | There are many versions of a widespread Polynesian story of two children fleeing their uncaring parents to become two shining stars, the stars themselves being variously recorded as Castor and Pollux (α and β Gem), Shaula and Lesath (λ and υ Sco), ζ and θ Sco, and µ¹ and µ² Sco as well as [possibly] ω¹ and ω² Sco. In Tahiti, Pipiri was the twin brother of Rehua: Pipiri ma refers to the two together, ma "with, and" being used after names to mean "et al.". Calderon identifies the two children as µ¹ and µ² Sco, their mother being Shaula (λ Sco) and their father Lesath (υ Sco). | Tahitian | Calderon, George (Tihoti) (1921). Tahiti. p.173; Makemson, Maud (1941). The Morning Star Rises. p.243-244 #482 | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Polaris Australis | HR 7228 | 104382 | σ Oct | Oct | Latin | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Polis | HR 6812 | 89341 | μ Sgr | Sgr | Latin | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Prima Hyadum | HR 1346 | 20205 | γ Tau | Tau | Latin | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Salm | HR 8880 | 115250 | τ Peg | Peg | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Secunda Hyadum | HR 1373 | 20455 | δ1 Tau | Tau | Latin | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Segin | HR 0542 | 8886 | ε Cas | Cas | Name of unknown etymology from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). | unknown | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Tabit | HR 1543 | 22449 | π3 Ori | Ori | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Terebellum | HR 7597 | 98066 | ω Sgr | Sgr | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Tiaki | HR 8636 | 112122 | β Gru | Gru | Makemson (1941: 261 #659) lists Tiaki as the Tuamotuan name for β Gru, sourcing this to unpublished field data supplied by Kenneth P. Emory (ibid.: 197). However, Emory's star information does not appear in his later publications and has not been located to date in archives of his unpublished material. Stimson's Tuamotuan dictionary (1964: 526) gives the meaning of Tīaki as "guardian", "keeper" or "watchman", but does not list it as a star. He does, however, list Tīakitau as the name of an unidentified star on Anaa, which Makemson (1941: 261 #660) lists separately. | Polynesian/Tuamotu | Makemson, Maud W. (1941). The Morning Star Rises: an Account of Polynesian Astronomy. New Haven: Yale University Press. Stimson, J. Frank, with the collaboration of Donald S. Marshall (1964). A Dictionary of Some Tuamotuan Dialects of the Polynesian Language. Published by the Peabody Museum of Salem Massachusetts and Het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Torcular | HR 510 | 8198 | ο Psc | Psc | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Unurgunite | HR 2646 | 33856 | σ CMa | CMa | Unurgunite is the Boorong/Wergaia name of σ CMa, from northwestern Victoria, Australia. Unurgunite is an ancestral jacky lizard who has two wives, represented by stars on either side of him (δ CMa and ε CMa). The Moon is Mityan, the quoll. Mityan fell in love with one of the wives of Unurgunite and tried to lure her away. Unurgunite discovered Mityan’s trickery and attacked him, leading to a great fight in which Mityan was defeated. The Moon has been wandering the heavens ever since, the scars of the battle still visible on his face as maria. One of the wives (δ CMa) lies further away from Unurgunite and is closer to the Moon than the other wife (ε CMa). This is the wife Mityan tried to lure away. | Aboriginal/Boorong | Stanbridge, W.E. (1857) On the Astronomy and Mythology of the Aborigines of Victoria. Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, Vol. 2, pp. 137-140. | 05/09/2017 | ||||||
Xamidimura | HR 6247 | 82514 | μ1 Sco | Sco | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Zubenelhakrabi | HR 5787 | 76333 | γ Lib | Lib | -- | -- | 05/09/2017 | |||||||
Ginan | HR 4700 | 60260 | ε Cru | Cru | Ginan is the Wardaman name of ε Cru, from the Northern Territory, Australia. Ginan was found by Mulugurnden (the crayfish), who brought the red flying foxes from the underworld to the sky. The bats flew up the track of the Milky Way and traded the spiritual song with Guyaru, the Night Owl (Sirius). The bats fly through the constellation Scorpius on their way to the Southern Cross, trading songs as they go. The song informs the people about initiation, which is managed by the stars in Scorpius and related to Larawag (who ensures the appropriate personnel are present for the final stages of the ceremony). The colour of the star is reflected as the brownish-red colour of the dilly bag and its association with ceremonial fire. | Aboriginal/ Wardaman | Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW, pp. 147-149, 153. | 17/11/2017 | ||||||
Larawag | HR 6241 | 82396 | ε Sco | Sco | Larawag is the Wardaman name of ε Sco, from the Northern Territory, Australia. Larawag is part of a procession of beings along the curve of stars in Scorpius, acting as the signal watcher, noting when only legitimate participants are present and in view of the ceremony. He gives the “All clear” signal, allowing the secret part of the ceremony to continue. This procession is related to the bats that carry Ginan. | Aboriginal/Wardaman | Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW, pp. 147-149. | 17/11/2017 | ||||||
Wurren | HR 338 | 5348 | ζ Phe | Phe | Wurren is the Wardaman name of ζ Phe, from the Northern Territory, Australia. Wurren means “child” and refers to the “Little Fish”, a child of Dungdung – the life-creating Frog Lady. Wurren gives water to Gawalyan, the echidna (Achernar), which they direct Earthly initiates to carry in small bowls. The water came from a great waterfall used to cool the people during the ceremony. Just as the water at the base of the waterfall keeps people cool and rises to the sky as mist, the water in the initiates’ bowls keeps them cool and symbolically transforms into clouds that bring the wet rains of the monsoon season. These ceremonies occur in late December when the weather is hot and these stars are high in the evening sky, signalling the start of the monsoon. | Aboriginal/Wardaman | Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW, pp. 200, 204. | 17/11/2017 | ||||||
Alpherg | HR 437 | 7097 | η Psc | Psc | Arabic | -- | Pisces | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Alruba | HR 6618 | 86782 | - Dra | Dra | Arabic | -- | Draco | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Ashlesha | HR 3482 | 43109 | ε Hya | Hya | -- | -- | Hydra | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Azmidi | HR 3045 | 38170 | ξ Pup | Pup | -- | -- | Puppis | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Bunda | HR 8264 | 106786 | ξ Aqr | Aqr | unknown | -- | Aquarius | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Elgafar | HR 5409 | 70755 | ϕ Vir | Vir | Arabic | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Elkurud | HR 2177 | 29034 | θ Col | Col | Arabic | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Fawaris | HR 7528 | 97165 | δ Cyg | Cyg | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Felis | HR 3923 | 48615 | Hya | Felis (The Cat) is the name of a constellation invented by Lalande. The name is applied to one star in the area that the constellation covered. | Latin | http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/felis.html | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Fumalsamakah | HR 8773 | 113889 | β Psc | Psc | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Heze | HR 5107 | 66249 | ζ Vir | Vir | Name of unknown etymology from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). It could refer to the god. It is possible derived from Ezechiel (one of four prophets from Old Testament). Transcription to Greek language adds "H" to EZE. | Greco-Hebrew | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Kraz | HR 4786 | 61359 | β Crv | Crv | Name of unknown etymology from the "Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso" of Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář (1901-1965). | unknown | Bečvář, A. (1948) Atlas coeli Skalnaté Pleso. Praha: Přírodověcké Vydavatelství | 01/06/2018 | ||||||
Nahn | HR 3627 | 44946 | ξ Cnc | Cnc | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Okab | HR 7235 | 93747 | ζ Aql | Aql | Arabic | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Piautos | HR 3268 | 40881 | λ Cnc | Cnc | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Tarf | HR 3249 | 40526 | β Cnc | Cnc | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Ukdah | HR 3845 | 47431 | ι Hya | Hya | -- | -- | 01/06/2018 | |||||||
Gudja | HR 5879 | 77450 | κ Ser | Ser | Gudja is the Wardaman name of κ Ser, from the Northern Territory, Australia. Gudja is a Water Goanna, related to birth and rebirth. It is part of the bright trio of stars in Serpens Caput, which also include Munin the Rock Cod (γ Ser) and the Mungamungga birthing place (β Ser), likened to a little hospital. Gudja is involved with the birthing process, which includes sacred ritual practices. The Spiritual Women at the birthing and blessing site in Serpens Caput are connected to the sacred areas of Crux and enacted at Munin Rock and Yinggalarri. | Aboriginal/ Wardaman | Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW. pp. 107-113. | 10/08/2018 | ||||||
Guniibuu | HR 6402 | 84405 | 36 Oph | Oph | Guniibuu is the Kamilaroi/Euahlayi name for the robin red-breast bird (Petroica boodang). A traditional story links Guniibuu with Gidjirrigaa (Budgerigar) the star κ Sco. | Aboriginal/ Kamilaroi/ Euahlayi | Fuller, R.S. (2018) Aboriginal Astronomy: The Kamilaroi and Euahlayi Peoples. Brochure accompanying planisphere for school education based on knowledge from Euahlayi elder Ghillar Michael Anderson. http://www.aboriginalastronomy.com.au/content/community/kamilaroi/ | 10/08/2018 | ||||||
Imai | HR 4656 | 59747 | δ Cru | Cru | The Mursi name a line of four stars imai (δ Cru), thaadoi (β Cru), waar (β Cen) and sholbi (α Cen). Their successive disappearance (heliacal setting) are used to determine when the River Omo will flood (it does this several times) and hence to determine when to plant the annual crop of cowpeas beside it (after the last flood but before the ground dries out). Imai is the Mursi name for the grass that grows along the banks of the river (Rhynchelytrum repens). It is said that when the imai star disappears, the Omo rises high enough to flatten the imai grass. | African/Mursi | Turton and Ruggles (1978), "Agreeing to Disagree: the measurement of duration in a south-western Ethiopian community", Current Anthropology, 19 (1978), 585-600. | 10/08/2018 | ||||||
La Superba | HR 4846 | 62223 | Y CVn | CVn | In 1868 Secchi used "superba" as an adjective to describe the star Y CVn, not as a proper name of the star. However, in 1876 Birmingham seems to have borrowed from Secchi this term and used it as a proper name of the star. As a consequence, in 1877 Secchi himself adopted the same name. Agnes Clerke attributed the term to Secchi, without distinguishing between the adjective and the name. In principle, it should be attributed to both Secchi and Birmingham, in my opinion. | Latin | Email from Ileana Chinnici, biographer of Secchi, to Ian Ridpath 2024 October 14. | CVn | 10/08/2018 | |||||
Paikauhale | HR 6165 | 81266 | τ Sco | Sco | Au-haele, Hōkū-‘ula and Paikauhale are documented as three stars in a line, running from north to south. Two of the most reliable sources—Mary Puku‘i and Rubellite Johnson—both identify Hōkū-‘ula as Antares (α Sco), which makes Au-haele Alniyat (σ Sco) and Paikauhale τ Sco. | Hawaii'ian | Johnson, Mahelona and Ruggles (2015), Nā Inoa Hōkū, p. 201 | 10/08/2018 | ||||||
Toliman | HR 5460 | 71681 | α Cen | Cen | Applied in recent times from some ind-A name al-zulman, "the Ostriches." Stars in today's Centaurus were variously identified with one or more ostriches by the ind-Arabs, but what star or stars were originally designated is unknown. | Arabic | Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. | Cen | 10/08/2018 | |||||
Absolutno | XO-5 | 0 | Lyn | Lyn | Absolutno is a fictional miraculous substance in the sci-fi novel Továrna na absolutno (The Factory for the Absolute) by influential Czech writer Karel Čapek. | fictional | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Lynx | 17/12/2019 | wiki | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
Alasia | HD 168746 | 90004 | _ Ser | Ser | Alasia is the first historically recorded name of Cyprus, dating back to mid-fifteenth century BCE. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Serpens | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Amadioha | HD 43197 | 29550 | _ CMa | CMa | Amadioha is the god of thunder in Igbo mythology. As well as representing justice, Amadioha is also a god of love, peace and unity. | Igbo | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Canis Major | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Amansinaya | WASP-34 | 0 | _ Crt | Crt | Aman Sinaya is one of the two trinity deities of the Philippine's Tagalog mythology, and is the primordial deity of the ocean and protector of fisherman. | Filipino | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Crater | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Anadolu | WASP-52 | 0 | _ Peg | Peg | Anadolu is the primary homeland of Turkey and refers to the motherland in Turkish culture. | Turkish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Pegasus | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Aniara | HD 102956 | 57820 | _ UMa | UMa | Aniara is the name of a spaceship in the epic poem Aniara by Swedish author Harry Martinson. | fictional | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Ursa Major | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Arcalís | HD 131496 | 72845 | _ Boo | Boo | Arcalis is a famous peak in the north of Andorra, where the Sun passes through a hole in the mountain twice a year at fixed dates. It was used as a primitive solar calendar and reference point for shepherds and early inhabitants of Andorra. | Catalan | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Bootes | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Atakoraka | WASP-64 | 0 | _ CMa | CMa | Atakoraka means the chain of the Atacora: the largest mountain range in Togo. | Ewe | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Canis Major | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Axólotl | HD 224693 | 118319 | Cet | Axólotl means water animal in the native Nahuatl language, which is a unique and culturally significant endemic amphibious species from the basin of Mexico. | Nahuatl | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Cetus | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Ayeyarwady | HD 18742 | 13993 | Eri | Ayeyarwady is the largest and most important river in Myanmar. | Burmese | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Eridanus | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Baekdu | HD 133086 | 73136 | 8 UMi | UMi | Baekdu is the highest mountain on the Korean peninsula, situated in North Korea, and symbolises the national spirit of Korea. | Korean | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Ursa Minor | 17/12/2019 | |||||
Belel | HD 181342 | 95124 | Sgr | Belel is a rare source of water in the north of Senegal. | Wolof | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Sagittarius | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Bélénos | HD 8574 | 6643 | Psc | Bélénos was the god of light, of the Sun, and of health in Gaulish mythology. | French | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Pisces | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Berehynia | HAT-P-15 | 0 | Per | Berehynia was a Slavic deity of waters and riverbanks but in more recent times her status has been promoted to that of a national goddess — "hearth mother, protectress of the earth". | Ukrainian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Perseus | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Bibhā | HD 86081 | 48711 | Sex | Bibhā [/bɪbɦa/] is the Bengali pronunciation of the Sanskrit word Vibha, which means a bright beam of light. | Bengali | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Sextans | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Bosona | HD 206610 | 107251 | Aqr | Bosona is the name given to the territory of Bosnia in the 10th century. Later, the name was transformed to Bosnia originating from the name of the Bosna river. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Aquarius | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Bubup | HD 38283 | 26380 | Men | Bubup is the Boonwurrung word for child. | Boonwurrung | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Mensa | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Buna | HD 16175 | 12191 | And | Buna is the commonly used word for coffee in Ethiopia. | Ethiopic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Andromeda | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Ceibo | HD 63454 | 37284 | Cha | Ceibo is the name of the native tree of Uruguay that gives rise to the national flower. | Spanish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Chaophraya | WASP-50 | 0 | Eri | Chao Phraya is the great river of Thailand. | Thai | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Eridanus | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Chasoň | HAT-P-5 | 0 | Lyr | Chasoň is an ancient Slovak term for Sun. | Slovakian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Lyra | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Chechia | HD 192699 | 99894 | Aql | Chechia is a flat-surfaced, traditional red wool hat worn by men and women, symbolising the country's rich traditions and is considered as the national headdress for in Tunisia. | Tunisian Arabic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Aquila | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Citadelle | HD 1502 | 1547 | Psc | The Citadelle is a large mountaintop fortress in Nord, Haiti built after Haiti's independence, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the nearby Sans-Souci Palace. | French | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Pisces | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Citalá | HD 52265 | 33719 | Mon | Citalá means River of stars in the native Nahuat language. | Nawat language | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | Monoceros | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Cocibolca | HD 4208 | 3479 | Scl | Cocibolca is the Nahualt name for the largest lake in Central America in Nicaragua. | Spanish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Dingolay | HD 96063 | 54158 | Leo | Dingolay means to dance, twist and turn in elaborate movements, symbolising the culture and language of the ancestors of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. | English | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Dìwö | WASP-17 | 0 | Sco | Dìwö in Bribri language means the sun (bigger than the sun we know) and that never turns off. | Bribri | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Diya | WASP-72 | 0 | For | Diya is an oil lamp that is brought by Indian ancestors to Mauritius in the 1820's, and is used for lighting during special occasions, including the light festival of Diwali. | Hindi | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Dofida | HD 117618 | 66047 | UMa | Dofida means our star in Nias language. | Nias language | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Dombay | HAT-P-3 | 0 | UMa | Dombay is a resort region in the North Caucasus mountains that is enclosed by mountain forests and rich wildlife, including bears (as this star lies in the constellation Ursa Major, the great bear). | Russian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Ebla | HAT-P-3 | 114322 | Psc | Ebla was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria, and served as a prominent region in the 2nd and 3rd millenia B.C. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Emiw | HD 7199 | 5529 | Tuc | Emiw represents love in the local Makhuwa language of the northern region of Mozambique. | Makhuwa | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Felixvarela | BD-17 63 | 2247 | Cet | Felix Varela (1788–1853) was the first to teach science in Cuba at the San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary. He opened the way to education for all, and began the experimental teaching of physics in Cuba. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Flegetonte | HD 102195 | 57370 | Vir | Flegetonte is the underworld river of fire from Greek Mythology in the Italian narrative poem on the afterlife "Divina Commedia" (Divine Commedy) by Dante Alighieri, chosen as an allusion to the star's fiery nature. | Italian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Formosa | HD 100655 | 56508 | Leo | Formosa is the historical name of Taiwan used in the 17th century, meaning beautiful in Latin. | Portuguese | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Franz | HAT-P-14 | 0 | Her | Franz is a character in the movie "Sissi" embodying an emperor of Austria in the XIXth century. The role is played by the actor Karlheinz Böhm. | -- | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Funi | HD 109246 | 61177 | Dra | Funi is an old Icelandic word meaning fire or blaze. | Icelandic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Gakyid | HD 73534 | 42446 | Cnc | Gakyid means happiness. Gross National Happiness is the development philosophy conceived and followed in Bhutan and is one of Bhutan's contributions to the world. | Dzongkha | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Gloas | WASP-13 | 0 | Lyn | In Manx Gaelic, Gloas means to shine (like a star). | Manx Gaelic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Gumala | HD 179949 | 94645 | V5652 Sgr | Sgr | Gumala is a Malay word, which means a magic bezoar stone found in snakes, dragons, etc. | Malay | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Hoggar | HD 28678 | 21109 | Tau | Hoggar is the name of the main mountain range in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria. | Arabic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Horna | HAT-P-38 | 0 | Tri | Horna is hell or the underworld from Finnic mythology. | Finnish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Hunahpú | HD 98219 | 55174 | Crt | Hunahpú was one of the twin gods who became the Sun in K'iche' (Quiché) Mayan mythology as recounted in the Popol Vuh. | Kʼicheʼ language | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Hunor | HAT-P-2 | 0 | Her | Hunor was a legendary ancestor of the Huns and the Hungarian nation, and brother of Magor. | Hungarian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Illyrian | HD 82886 | 47087 | LMi | Historians largely believe that the Albanians are descendants of the Illyrians, a term Albanians proudly call themselves. | English | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Inquill | HD 156411 | 84787 | Ara | Inquill was one half of the couple involved in the tragic love story Way to the Sun by famous Peruvian writer Abraham Valdelomar. | -- | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Intan | HD 20868 | 15578 | For | Intan means diamond in the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu), alluding to the shining of a star. | Bahasa Melyu | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Irena | WASP-38 | 0 | Her | Irena is a leading character in the novel Under the Free Sun: a Story of the Ancient Grandfathers by Slovene writer Fran Saleški Finžgar. Irena is a woman of the court. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Itonda | HD 208487 | 108375 | Gru | Itonda, in the Myene tongue, corresponds to all that is beautiful. | Myene | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Jishui | HR 2930 | 37265 | ο Gem | Gem | traditional Chinese single star asterism: translations of the term are "Bilgewater", "a store of water to make wine", or "accumulated water (held in by dikes for future use)". It refers to a faint star in Gemini or Perseus that is idenfied differently by modern authors. Sun and Kistemaker (1997) from Han sources and Sun Shuwei (Stellarium) from a medieval source both suggest o Gem while Xu et al. (2000) identify lambda Persei. | Chinese | Shi shi xingjing (Star Catalogue of the Shi Shi) | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Kalausi | HD 83443 | 47202 | Vel | The word Kalausi means a very strong whirling column of wind in the Dholuo language of Kenya. | Dholuo | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Kamuy | HD 145457 | 79219 | CrB | Kamuy is a word in the Ainu language denoting a supernatural entity possessing spiritual energy. | Ainu | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Karaka | HD 137388 | 76351 | Aps | Karaka is the word in the Māori language for a plant endemic to New Zealand that produces a bright orange, fleshy fruit. | Māori | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Kaveh | HD 175541 | 92895 | Ser | Kaveh is one of the heroes of Shahnameh, the epic poem composed by Persian poet Ferdowsi between 977 and 1010 CE. Kaveh is a blacksmith who symbolises justice. | Persian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Koeia | HIP 12961 | 12961 | Eri | Koeia was the word for star in the language of the Taíno Indigenous People of the Caribbean. | Taíno | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Koit | XO-4 | 0 | Lyn | Koit is Estonian for the time when the Sun rises in the morning (dawn). | Estonian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Lerna | HAT-P-42 | 0 | Hya | Lerna was the name of a lake in the eastern Peloponnese, where the Lernaean Hydra, an immortal mythical nine-headed beast lived. The star lies in the constellation of Hydra. | Greek | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Liesma | HD 118203 | 66192 | UMa | Liesma means flame, and it is the name of a character from the Latvian poem Staburags un Liesma. | Lavtian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Lionrock | HD 212771 | 110813 | Aqr | Lion Rock is a lion-shaped peak overlooking Hong Kong and is a cultural symbol with deep respect from the local community. | English | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Lucilinburhuc | HD 45350 | 30860 | Aur | The Lucilinburhuc fortress was built in 963 by the founder of Luxembourg, Count Siegfried. | Luxembourgish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Lusitânia | HD 45652 | 30905 | Mon | Lusitânia is the ancient name of the western region of the Iberic Peninsula where the Lusitanian people lived and where most of modern-day Portugal is situated. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Macondo | HD 93083 | 52521 | Ant | Macondo is the mythical village of the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) the classic novel by Gabriel García Marquez. Macondo is a fictional place where magic and reality are mixed. | Spanish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mago | HD 32518 | 24003 | Cam | Mago is a National Park in Ethiopia noted for its giraffes. The star also happens to be in the constellation of Camelopardis (the giraffe). | Ethiopian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mahsati | HD 152581 | 82651 | Oph | Mahsati Ganjavi (1089–1159) is one of the brightest shining stars of Azerbaijani poetry. She was said to have associated with both Omar Khayyam and Nizami and was well educated and talented and played numerous musical instruments. | Persian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Malmok | WASP-39 | 0 | V732 Vir | Vir | Malmok is an indigenous name given to a beach in Aruba with a narrow sandy stretch that interrupts the limestone and rocky terrace along the coast. Its shallow clear Caribbean waters make it a popular snorkelling spot. | Papiamento | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Márohu | WASP-6 | 0 | Aqr | Márohu the god of drought is the protector of the Sun and is engraved at a higher position on the stalagmite than Boinayel in the El Puente cave, where the Sun makes its way down every 21 December. | Taíno | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Moldoveanu | XO-1 | 0 | CrB | Moldoveanu is the highest peak in Romania of the Făgăraș mountain range with an altitude of 2544 metres. | Romanian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mönch | HD 130322 | 72339 | Vir | Mönch is one of the prominent peaks of the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. | German | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Montuno | WASP-79 | 0 | Eri | Montuno is the traditional costume the man wears in the “El Punto”, a Panamanian dance in which a man and woman dance to the sound of drums. | Spanish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Morava | WASP-60 | 0 | Peg | Morava is the longest river system in Serbia. | Serbian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Moriah | HAT-P-23 | 0 | Del | Moriah is an ancient name for the mountain within the Old City of Jerusalem. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mouhoun | HD 30856 | 22491 | Eri | Mouhoun, also called Volta Noire, is the largest river in Burkina Faso and plays an important role in the lives of the people in the areas it passes through. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mpingo | WASP-71 | 0 | Cet | Mpingo is a famous tree that grows in southern Tanzania and produces ebony wood used for musical instruments and curios. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Muspelheim | HAT-P-29 | 0 | Per | Muspelheim is the Norse mythological realm of fire. The first gods used the sparks of Muspelheim to form the sun, moon, planets, and stars. | Old Norse | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Naledi | WASP-62 | 0 | Dor | Naledi means star in the Sesotho, SeTswana and SePedi languages and is typically given as a name to girls in the hope that they will bring light, joy and peace to their communities. | Sesotho, Se Tswana and SePedi | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Násti | HD 68988 | 40687 | UMa | Násti means star in the Northern Sami language of Norway. | Northern Sami | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Natasha | HD 85390 | 48235 | Vel | Natasha means "thank you" in many languages of Zambia. | Zambian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nenque | HD 6434 | 5054 | Phe | Nenque means the Sun in the language spoken by the Indigenous Waorani tribes of the Amazon regions of Ecuador. | Waorani | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nervia | HD 49674 | 32916 | Aur | Nervia, adapted from Nervii, was a prominent Belgian Celtic tribe. | Latin | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nikawiy | HD 136418 | 74961 | Boo | Nikawiy is the word for mother in the Indigenous Cree language of Canada. | Cree language | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nosaxa | HD 48265 | 31895 | Pup | Nosaxa means spring in the Moqoit language. The word comes from a combination of nosahuec, which means renew, and ñaaxa, which means year. | Moqoit | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nushagak | HD 17156 | 13192 | Cas | Nushagak is a regional river near Dilingham, Alaska, which is famous for its wild salmon that sustain local Indigenous communities. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Nyamien | WASP-15 | 0 | Cen | Nyamien refers to the supreme creator deity of Akan mythology. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Parumleo | WASP-32 | 0 | Psc | Parumleo is a Latin term for little lion, symbolising Singapore's struggle for independence. | Modern | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Petra | WASP-80 | 0 | Aql | Petra is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan and a UNESCO World Heritage site. | Greek | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | 2018/8/10 | ||||||
Phoenicia | HD 192263 | 99711 | V1703 Aql | Aql | Phoenicia was an ancient thalassocratic civilisation of the Mediterranean that originated from the area of modern-day Lebanon. | Latin | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Pincoya | HD 164604 | 88414 | Sgr | Pincoya is a female water spirit from southern Chilean mythology who is said to bring drowned sailors to the Caleuche so that they can live in the afterlife. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Pipoltr | TrES-3 | 0 | V1434 Her | Her | In the local dialect of Triesenberg, Pipoltr is a bright and visible butterfly, alluding to the properties of a star. | Triesenberg dialect | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | ||||||
Poerava | HD 221287 | 116084 | Tuc | Poerava is the word in the Cook Islands Maori language for a large mystical black pearl of utter beauty and perfection. | Cook Islands Maori | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Rapeto | HD 153950 | 83547 | Sco | Rapeto is a giant creature from Malagasy tales. | Malagasy | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Rosaliadecastro | HD 149143 | 81022 | Oph | Rosalia de Castro was a significant figure of Galician culture and prominent Spanish writer, whose pioneeting work often referenced the night and celestial objects. | NEWC | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sagarmatha | HD 100777 | 56572 | Leo | Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for the highest peak in the world (also known as Mount Everest) and symbol of national pride of Nepal. | Nepali | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sāmaya | HD 205739 | 106824 | PsA | Sāmaya means peace in the Sinhalese language. | Sinhalese | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sansuna | HAT-P-34 | 0 | Sge | Sansuna is the name of the mythological giant from traditional Maltese folk tales that carried the stones of the Gozo megalithic temples on her head. | Maltese | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Shama | HD 99109 | 55664 | Leo | Shama is an Urdu literary term meaning a small lamp or flame, symbolic of the light of the star. | Urdu | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sharjah | HIP 79431 | 79431 | Sco | Sharjah is the cultural capital of United Arab Emirates, and considered the city of knowledge due to its many educational centers, institutes, museums, libraries and heritage centers. | Arabic | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sika | HD 181720 | 95262 | Sgr | Sika means gold in the Ewe language and gold is one of Ghana's principal exports. | Ewe | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Solaris | BD+14-4559 | 0 | Peg | Solaris is the title of a 1961 science fiction novel about an ocean-covered exoplanet by Polish writer Stanislaw Lem. | fictional | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Sterrennacht | HAT-P-6 | 0 | And | The Sterrennacht (Starry Night) is a world-famous painting by Dutch grand master Van Gogh that was painted in France in 1889 and now belongs to the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art. | Dutch | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Stribor | HD 75898 | 43674 | Lyn | Stribor is God of winds in Slavic mythology, as well as a literature character in the book Priče iz davnine (Croatian Tales of Long Ago) by the Croatian author Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić. | Slavic languages | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Taika | HAT-P-40 | 0 | Lac | Taika means peace in the Lithuanian language. | Lithuanian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tangra | WASP-21 | 0 | Peg | Tangra is the supreme celestial god that early Bulgars worshiped. | Bulgarian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tapecue | HD 63765 | 38041 | Car | Tapecue means eternal path in Guarani and represents the Milky Way through which the first inhabitants of the Earth arrived and could return. | Guarani | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tevel | HAT-P-9 | 0 | Aur | Tevel means Universe or everything and begins with the letter Taf, the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet. | Hebrew | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Timir | HD 148427 | 80687 | Oph | Timir means darkness in Bengali language, alluding to the star being far away in the darkness of space. | Bengali | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tislit | WASP-161 | 0 | Pup | Tislit is the name of a lake in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. It means the bride in the Amazigh language and it is associated with a heartbroken beautiful girl in an ancient local legend. | Amazigh | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tojil | WASP-22 | 0 | Eri | Tojil is the name of one of the Mayan deities related to rain, storms, and fire. | Mayan | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tuiren | HAT-P-36 | 0 | CVn | Tuiren was the aunt of the hunterwarrior Fionn mac Cumhaill of Irish legend, who was turned into a hound by the jealous fairy Uchtdealbh. | Old Irish | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tupã | HD 108147 | 60644 | Cru | Tupã is one of four principle gods of the Guarani Cosmogony in popular Paraguayan folklore that helped the supreme god Ñamandu to create the Universe. | Guarani | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Tupi | HD 23079 | 17096 | Ret | Tupi is the name of the most populous Indigenous People living on the eastern coast of South America, before the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century. | Tupi languages | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Uklun | HD 102117 | 57291 | Cen | Uklun means us or we in the Pitkern language of the people of Pitcairn Islands. | Pitkern | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Uruk | HD 231701 | 96078 | Sge | Uruk was an ancient city of the Sumer and Babylonian civilizations in Mesopotamia situated along an ancient channel of the Euphrates river in modern-day Iraq. | Akkadian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Xihe | HD 173416 | 91852 | Lyr | Xihe (羲和) is the goddess of the sun in the Chinese mythology and also represents the earliest astronomers and developers of calendars in ancient China. | Chinese | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 17/12/2019 | |||||||
Mazalaai | HAT-P-21 | 0 | UMa | Mazaalai is the Mongolian name for the endangered Gobi bear subspecies (Ursus arctos gobiensis) of the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia, and the name of the first Mongolian satellite. | Mongolian | 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds | 24/02/2020 | |||||||
Geminga | PSR B0633+17 | 0 | Gem | The star name is an Italian pun, suggested in a paper by Bignami et al. (1983): This source is in the constellation of Gemini and it is a gamma-ray source. Pronounced with both G’s as in “get,” the word means “does not exist” or “it’s not there” in Milanese dialect. | Contemporary | Bignami, G. F. ; Caraveo, P. A. ; Lamb, R. C. (1983). An identification for "GEMINGA" (2CG 195+04) 1E 0630+178 : a unique object in the error box of the high-energy gamma-ray source. Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 272, p. L9-L13 | 04/04/2022 | |||||||
Rana | HR 1136 | 17378 | δ Eri | Eri | Rana is Latin "The Frog". There are several stars named "frog" in the Arabic culture but at different places. WGSN placed the name at that constellation of the river. | Latin | 04/04/2022 | |||||||
Aiolos | HD 95086 | Car | Aiolos (Αίολος) was the Greek mythological keeper of the winds. In Homer’s Odyssey, Aiolos used an oxhide flask to capture all winds except for the western one, Zephyr. Zephyr then helped the sailboat of Ulysses navigate the seas towards home (Ithaca). | Greek | NEWC Greece: Greek Names related to winds, especially from Homer’s Odyssey and from the poem "The Axion Esti" (1959) by Greek poet Odysseas Elytis (1911-1996; winner of 1979 Nobel Prize for Literature). | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Añañuca | GJ 367 | Vel | Añañuca (Phycella cyrtanthoides) is the name of a red wildflower that grows from the Coquimbo region to the Maule region, whose colour alludes to that of the star GJ 367. | Spanish | NEWC Chile: Names of flowers endemic to Chile, whose characteristics allude to the properties of the named celestial objects. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Batsũ̀ | LHS 3844 | Ind | Batsũ̀ means “hummingbird” in the Bribri language. Batsũ̀ are the messengers of the creator Sibö̀, a culture hero and creator of Earth and Humanity. | Bribri | NEWC Costa Rica: Names of culturally significant animals in the language of the Bribri people from Costa Rica. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Danfeng | L 168-9 | Tuc | Danfeng (丹凤) refers to the red phoenix, a sacred bird symbolising good fortune in ancient Chinese legend. | Chinese (Simplified) | NEWC China: Mythological birds of ancient China. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Dilmun | WASP-121 | Pup | Dilmun was the Sumerian name of an ancient civilisation of the Bahrain archipelago and the eastern Arabian Peninsula. | Sumerian and Greek | NEWC Bahrain: Names of ancient civilisations or places associated with the Bahrain archipelago. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Filetdor | WASP-166 | Hya | "Filet d'Or" refers to a golden sea serpent, the protagonist in the Mallorcan folktale (rondalla) "Na Filet d'Or". | Catalan | NEWC Spain: Characters in the Catalan dialect from Mallorcan folktales as recorded in "Aplec de Rondaies Mallorquines d'en Jordi d'es Racó" by Mallorcan writer Antoni Maria Alcover i Sureda (1862-1932). | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Gar | GJ 486 | Vir | “Gar” means flame in the Basque language. | Basque | NEWC Spain: Terms associated with fire, heat, and passion from the Basque language. The original names come from the popular Basque saying “su eta gar” (fire and flame), which signifies passion and enthusiasm. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Gnomon | WASP-43 | Sex | The gnomon (γνώμων) is a basic astronomical instrument, like a sundial, whose shadow length and direction can indicate time or determine latitude. | Greek | NEWC Romania: Names of ancient astronomical instruments, especially for navigation. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Guahayona | HAT-P-26 | Vir | Guahayona was a Taíno mythological hero who was “the one who shone with his own light” and is identified with the morning and evening “star” Venus. | Taino | NEWC Puerto Rico: Names of deities associated with creation myths and storms from the Taíno indigenous people of the Caribbean. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Kaewkosin | GJ 3470 | Cnc | Kaewkosin (แก้วโกสินทร์) refers to the crystals of the Hindu deity Indra in the Thai language, alluding to the ancient belief that the stars were gemstones. | Thai | NEWC Thailand: Terms associated with precious stones in the Thai language. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Komondor | HAT-P-12 | CVn | The Komondor is a large white Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog. | Hungarian | NEWC Hungary: Hungarian dog breeds and Hungarian words associated with dogs. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Kosjenka | WASP-63 | Col | Kosjenka is the protagonist of the Croatian fairy tale Regoč. | Croatian | NEWC Croatia: Characters from the Croatian fairy tale Regoč by Croatian children’s writer Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić (1874-1938). | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Maru | WD 0806-661 | Vol | ‘Maru’ (마루) is a Korean word reminiscent of the sky. | Korean | NEWC Republic of Korea: Korean words reminiscent of the sky, sea, and environment. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Matza | HIP 65426 | Cen | Matza refers to “a star in the sky” or “somebody that shines within” in the language of the Zoque people. | Zoque | NEWC Mexico: Words in the language of the Zoque Indigenous people of Mexico relating to cosmological vision, harmony, conflict, balance, and life. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Noquisi | GJ 436 | Leo | “Noquisi” (ᏃᏈᏏ, No-Kwee-See) is the Cherokee word for “star”. | Cherokee | NEWC USA: The Cherokee legend of the eagle feather and Cherokee terms associated with celestial objects. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Orkaria | GJ 1214 | Oph | Orkaria refers to the red ochre commonly donned by young Maa warriors during cultural ceremonies and alludes to the colour of GJ 1214. | Maa | NEWC Kenya: Terms describing aspects of the celestial body from the language of the Maa community, including the Maasai, Samburu, Ngasa and Il-Chamus, native to Kenya and Tanzania. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Uúba | LTT 9779 | Scl | Uúba is the word for “stars”, “seeds”, and “eyes” in the Lenguistica U’wa language (Tunebo) of the U’wa Indigenous community of Colombia. | Lenguistica U’wa language, also known as Tunebo. | NEWC Colombia: Terms in the Lenguistica U’wa (Tunebo) language of the U’wa Indigenous community of Colombia related to their vision of the world and cosmos. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Wattle | WASP-19 | Vel | Wattle is a genus of approximately 1000 species of shrubs and trees. The Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), whose colour alludes to the G-type star WASP-19, is native to Australia and is the official floral emblem of Australia. | English | NEWC Australia: Names of native flora of Australia of cultural significance, whose characteristics allude to the properties of the celestial objects. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Wouri | WASP-69 | Aqr | The Wouri is an important river in Cameroon. The 15th-century Portuguese navigator Fernão do Pó noted the large number of shrimps in the river and called it “Rio dos Camerões” [river of shrimps], which was the source of the nation’s name Cameroon. | Duala | NEWC Cameroon: Rivers and their tributaries in Cameroon that flow into the Gulf of Guinea. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Zembra | HATS-72 | Aqr | Zembra (زمبرة) is an island in the Gulf of Tunis, known for its wildlife and seabirds. It is part of the UNESCO Iles Zembra et Zembretta Biosphere Reserve, Tunisia. | Arabic | NEWC Tunesia: Places and species associated with UNESCO biosphere reserves in Tunisia. | 01/08/2023 | ||||||||
Antinous | HD 191692 | 99473 | θ Aql | Aql | A "sub"-constellation (or asterism) Antinous was created by Ptolemy of Alexandria and published in the Almagest star catalogue 137 CE. It is placed in the constellation of Aquila, The Eagle. | Greco-Roman | see ASE | 16/05/2024 | 302.8261945 | -0.8214635937 | 3.22 | |||
Phyllon Kissinou | 23 Com | 61394 | Com | Contemporary modern astronomers have used the nickname "Kissin"; therefore, the real name was made official. The term originates from the phrase "φύλλοv κισσίνου (phyllon kissinou, an ivy leaf)" in Ptolemy's Almagest. | Ancient Greek | see ASE | 16/05/2024 | 188.7128034 | 22.629206 | 4.773 | ||||
Tianfu | HR 7669 | 98823 | tau Aql | Aql | Tianfu (天桴) was an ancient Chinese constellation consisting of four stars. Their counting order has changed over time but we decided to take the name for the 1st star of the early (before Tang dynasty) version. | Chinese | see ASE | 16/05/2024 | 301.0346453 | 7.277964388 | 5.278 | |||
Leepwal | HD 121263 | 68002 | ζ Cen | Cen | Ļeepwal is the name for ζ Cen in Marshallese. Original spelling Ļeepwal. Pronounced leyepwal, the first "l" being pronounced with the back of the tongue raised (velarized) and the root of the tongue retracted (pharyngealized) so as to elongate the oral cavity, thereby giving the consonant a "heavier" or "darker" sound. | Marshallese | see ASE | 18/07/2024 | 208.8849402 | -47.28837451 | 2.55 | |||
Shaomin | HD 91316 | 51624 | ρ Leo | Leo | Taimin太民 (or Damin大民) for o Leo and Shaomin少民 (ρ Leo) are the two southernmost stars of the Xuanyuan轩辕 constellation. They were used to star names in ancient China. | Chinese | see ASE | 18/07/2024 | 158.2027933 | 9.306584817 | 3.87 | |||
Yunü (Yunu) | HD 87837 | 49637 | 31 Leo | Leo | Yunü御女 is the star in the middle of the southernmost stars of the Xuanyuan轩辕 constellation. The correct transliteration is "Yunü". | Chinese | see ASE | 18/07/2024 | 151.9761255 | 9.997506875 | 4.38 | |||
Pipit | HR 2451 | 31685 | ν Pup | Pup | Among the Kendayan (Dayak Kenayatn) people of West Kalimantan province, Borneo, Indonesia, the star ν Pup is identified as "Pipit". | Dayak | see ASE | 25/08/2024 | 99.44030261 | -43.19593569 | ||||
Stellio | HR 8585 | 111169 | α Lac | Lac | Hevelius, who invented the constellation Lacerta sive Stellio (modern Lacerta), gave it the alternative name Stellio in his star catalogue and atlas. | Latin | see ASE | 29/08/2024 | 337.8229226 | 50.28249164 | 3.77 | |||
Uridim | HR 5469 | 71860 | α Lup | Lup | The constellation of Lupus is one of the few ancient "Greek" constellation outside the zodiac that was directly taken over from a Babylonian constellation. The Sumerian term for this creature was UR.IDIM, later alternatively written "Uridimmu" in the Akkadian language (the literal Akkadian translation of UR.IDIM would be "kalbu šegû", according to lexical lists). | Sumerian | see ASE | 12/09/2024 | 220.4823158 | -47.38819875 | 2.286 | |||
Bake-eo (or Bake Eo) | HR 6629 | 87108 | γ Oph | Oph | A Marshallese star name for γ Oph. Pronounced "bakey-yew". Both spellings, "Bake-eo" and "Bake Eo" are accepted. The particle "Eo" simply means "here it is, take it", Bake is the spondylus mussel. | Marshallese | see ASE | 20/08/2024 | 266.9731691 | 2.707279122 | 3.75 | |||
Tengshe | HR 8726 | 113288 | Lac | Tengshe螣蛇 or 腾蛇 (Téng Shé, Flying Serpent) is a constellation created by ancient Chinese astrologers, dating back to the 2nd century BCE. | Chinese | see ASE | 19/09/2024 | 344.1083266 | 49.73354408 | 4.94 | ||||
Lang-Exster | HR 8502 | 110130 | α Tuc | Tuc | "Lang" is an Malayan/ Indonesian term meaning "hornbill", "Exster" is a Dutch word meaning "magpie" and both terms were used as name for the newly defined constellation in Early Modern Age by the Dutch sailors (de Houtman 1603) who artificially created the constellation as "Indian Magpie" referring to a species of bird with a strong cultural significance for the indigenous people they met (e.g. Dayak). The star is a spectroscopic binary which is why it makes sense to give it a double-name. | Malayan-Dutch | see ASE | 19/09/2024 | 334.6254685 | -60.25962954 | 2.82 | |||
Garnet Star | HR 8316 | 107259 | µ Cep | Cep | Piazzi (1803) named the star Garnet Sidus due to a description by W. Herschel (1773) as "deep garnet red"; the English name is well-established in recent literature and textbooks. | English | see ASE | 19/09/2024 | 325.8769148 | 58.78004609 | 4.08 | |||
Rhombus | HR 1336 | 19780 | α Ret | Ret | Lacaille named the constellation ''Réticule Rhomboïde'' which may refer to the earlier constellation "Rhombus" that Habrecht (1621) defined in the area. | Latin | see ASE | 19/09/2024 | 63.60612502 | -62.47380349 | 3.36 | |||
Solitaire | HR 5526 | 72571 | E Hya | Hya | extinct constellations invented by Le Monnier (1776), Latinized "Turdus Solitarius", was originally meant to remember the extinct bird "Rodrigues Solitaire", but always depicted as a Blue Rock Thrush. | French | see ASE | 31/10/2024 | 222.5721179 | -27.96036123 | 4.41 | |||
Bayer ID | Constellation | Date of Adoption |