List of proper names of stars

This is a list of proper names for stars, mostly derived from Arabic and Latin. See also the list of stars by constellation, which gives variant names, derivations, and magnitudes.

Of the roughly 10,000 stars visible to the naked eye, only a few hundred have been given proper names in the history of astronomy.[1] Traditional astronomy tends to group stars into asterisms, and give proper names to those, not to individual stars.

In 2016, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[2] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin dated July 2016[3] included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN (on 30 June and 20 July 2016) together with names of stars adopted by the IAU Executive Committee Working Group on Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites during the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign[4] and recognized by the WGSN. There are 125 stars on the list. Further batches of names were approved on 21 August 2016, 12 September 2016, 5 October 2016 and 6 November 2016. These were listed in a table included in the WGSN's second bulletin dated November 2016.[5] There are 102 stars on this list. All are included on the current IAU Catalog of Star Names, last updated on 7 November 2016.[6]

Most star names are in origin descriptive of the part of the asterism they are found in; thus Cynosure is the "dog's tail", formerly "the star in the tail of the 'dog' asterism" (now Ursa Minor), or Phecda, a corruption of the Arabic fakhð ad-dubb "thigh of the bear". Only a handful of the brightest stars have individual proper names not depending on their asterism; so Sirius "the scorcher", Antares and Canopus (of unknown origin), Alphard "the solitary one", Regulus "kinglet"; and arguably Aldebaran "the follower" (of the Pleiades), Procyon "preceding the dog [Sirius]".

In addition to the limited number of traditional star names, there are some coined in modern times, e.g. "Avior" for Epsilon Carinae (1930), and a number of stars named after people (mostly in the 20th century).

In the table below, unless indicated by a '†', the 'Modern proper name' is that approved by the WGSN and entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.

Constellation Bayer designation Modern proper name Historical names / comments
Eridanus θ¹ Eridani Acamar
  • Originally called آخر النهر ākhir an-nahr in Arabic, meaning "End of River", named because it was the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus (the River). (Before the 16th century, this was the last star in the Eridanus constellation; it was later extended to Achenar, below).[7]:p219
  • "Acamar" was first used in the Alphonsine tables (circa 1252).[7]:p219
  • Also called Al Thalim ("the Ostrich") by fifteenth-century Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg.[7]:p219
  • The Greek-Persian astronomer Chrysococca called it Aulax in Greek, meaning "the Furrow".[7]:p219
  • In Chinese, this star is called 天園六 (Tiān Yuán liù, English: the Sixth Star of Celestial Orchard).[8]
Eridanus α Eridani A Achernar
  • The name was originally Arabic آخر النهر ākhir an-nahr "river's end"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 水委一 (Shuǐ Wěi yī, English: the First Star of Crooked Running Water).[9]
Cassiopeia η Cassiopeiae Achird † [10][11] In Chinese, this star is called 王良三 (Wáng Liáng sān, English: the Third Star of Wang Liang).[9]
Scorpius β Scorpii Aa Acrab The traditional names of the β Scorpii system included Akrab and Elakrab, derived (like Acrab) from the Arabic العقرب al-aqrab "the scorpion", and Graffias, which is the Italian for "claws" and which was also applied to Xi Scorpii.[12][7]:p367
Crux α Crucis Aa Acrux 'Acrux' is a modern contraction of the Bayer designation, coined in the 19th century, but entering common use only by the mid 20th century.[13]
Cancer α Cancri Acubens The name was originally Arabic الزوبنةal zubanāh, "the claws"
Leo ζ Leonis Adhafera
  • The name is originally from Arabic الضفيرة al-ðafīrah "the braid/curl"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 軒轅十一 (Xuān Yuán Shí yī, English: the Eleventh Star of Xuanyuan).[14]
Canis Major ε Canis Majoris Adhara
  • The name is originally from Arabic عذارى ‘aðāra, "virgins". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated أول ألعذاري awwil al-aðārii, translated into Latin as Prima Virginum "first virgin".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 弧矢七 (Hú Shǐ qī, English: the Seventh Star of Bow and Arrow).[15]
Andromeda ξ Andromedae Adhil
Taurus ε Tauri Ain
  • The name is originally from the Arabic عين for "eye" and was reviewed and adopted by the IAU Executive Committee WG Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites.[6]
  • The star was given the name Oculus Boreus (Latin for "Northern eye") by John Flamsteed.[16][7]:p391
  • In Chinese, this star is called 畢宿一 (Bì sù yī, English: the First Star of Net).[17]
Lyra η Lyrae Aladfar †
  • The name is originally from Arabic الأظفر al-’uz̧fur, "the talons (of the swooping eagle)", sharing with μ Lyrae (Alathfar).
  • In Chinese, this star is called 輦道二 (Niǎn Dào èr, English: the Second Star of Imperial Passageway).[18]
Andromeda γ Andromedae Alamak †
  • The name is originally from Arabic العناق الأرض al-‘anāq al-’arđ̧, "the caracal" (desert lynx). Another Arabic name is آلرجل المسلسلة al rijl al musalsalah "the chained foot". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated جمس ألنعامة al ḣāmis al naʽāmāt, translated into Latin as Quinta Struthionum "fifth ostrich".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 天大將軍一 (Tiān Dà Jiāng Jūn yī, English: the First Star of Heaven's Great General).[19]
Lyra μ Lyrae Alathfar †

The name is originally from Arabic الأظفر al-’uz̧fur, "the talons (of the swooping eagle)", sharing with η Lyrae (Aladfar).

Virgo β Virginis Alaraph † Other name of β Virginis (see Zavijava)
Sagittarius π Sagittarii Albaldah †
  • The name is originally from Arabic بلدة bálda, "town". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated نير بلدة nayyir al bálda, translated into Latin as Lucida Oppidi "brightest of the town".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 建三 (Jiàn sān, English: the Third Star of Establishment).[20]
Aquarius ε Aquarii Albali
  • The name is originally from Arabic البالع albāli‘, "the swallower". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated نير سعد ألبلع nayyir sa'd al bulaʽ, translated into Latin as Lucida Fortunæ Dissipantis "the brightest of luck of the swallower".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 女宿一 (Nǚ sù yī, English: the First Star of Girl).[21]
Cygnus β¹ Cygni Albireo
  • Actually, there's no clear information of the name Albireo.
  • In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated منقار ألدجاجة minqār al-dajājah, translated into Latin as Rostrum Gallinǣ "the hen's beak".
Corvus α Corvi Alchiba
  • The name is originally from Arabic لخبا al-xibā, "tent". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated ألمنخر ألغرب al-manxar al-ghurab, translated into Latin as Rostrum Corvi "beak of the crow".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 右轄 (Yòu Xiá, English: Right Linchpin).[22]
Ursa Major 80 Ursae Majoris Alcor
  • The name was originally Arabic سها suhā "neglected one"; notable as a faintly perceptible companion of Mizar (ζ UMa).
  • This star is known as Arundhati in traditional Indian astronomy.
  • In Chinese, this star is called (, English: Assistant).
Taurus η Tauri Alcyone
Taurus α Tauri Aldebaran
  • The name was originally Arabic لدبران al-dabarān "the follower (of the Pleiades)".[24]
  • In Indian astronomy known as Rohini "the red one". To Persian astrologers it was known as a Royal star, Tascheter, Watcher of the East.
  • In Chinese, this star is called 畢宿五 (Bì sù wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Net).[25]
  • The Romans called this star with the name Palilicium.
Cepheus α Cephei Alderamin
  • The name was originally Arabic الذراع اليمين að-ðirā‘ al-yamīn "the right arm".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 天鈎五 (Tiān Gōu wu, English: the Fifth Star of Celestial Hook).[26]
Leo ζ Leonis Aldhafera † Other name of ζ Leonis (see Adhafera)
Grus γ Gruis Aldhanab †
  • The name was originally Arabic الذنب al dhanab, "the tail (of the constellation of the Southern Fish)"".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 敗臼一 (Bài Jiù yī, English: the First Star of Decayed Mortar).[27]
Draco ζ Draconis Aldhibain †
  • The name was originally Arabic الضبعين al ḍiba'in, "the two hyenas"", shares with η Draconis.
  • The other name of this star is Nodus III (Third Knot, the knot being a loop in the tail of Draco).
  • In Chinese, this star is called 紫微左垣四 (Zǐ Wēi Zuǒ Yuán sì, English: the Fourth Star of Left Wall (of Purple Forbidden Enclosure)) and 上弼 (Shǎng Bì, English: The First Minister)[28]
Draco δ Draconis Aldib † the other name of δ Draconis (see Altais)
Cygnus δ Cygni Al Fawaris †
Corona Australis α Coronae Australis Alfecca Meridiana †
Cepheus β Cephei Alfirk
Capricornus α¹ Capricorni Al Giedi † Alternative traditional names of Algedi, Prima Giedi and Algiedi Prima
Capricornus α² Capricorni Algedi Alternative traditional names of Al Giedi, Secunda Giedi and Algiedi Secunda
Pegasus γ Pegasi Algenib
Leo γ¹ Leonis Algieba
Perseus β Persei Algol The name was originally Arabic رأس الغول ra's al-ghūl "head of the ogre". In Egyptian Horus.[29] In Chinese, Tseih She, 'piled up corpses'. Also known as the "Demon Star". It is the eye of Medusa's head in the constellation of Perseus.
Corvus δ Corvi Algorab
Auriga α Aurigae Alhajoth
Gemini γ Geminorum Alhena derived from the Arabic الهنعة Al Han'ah, 'the brand' (on the neck of the camel)
Ursa Major ε Ursae Majoris Alioth
Ursa Major η Ursae Majoris Alkaid
Columba θ Columbae Al Kurud †
Cepheus ρ² Cephei Al Kalb al Rai †
Boötes μ¹ Boötis Alkalurops
Ursa Major χ Ursae Majoris Al Kaphrah †
Crater α Crateris Alkes
Cepheus ξ Cephei Alkurah †
Andromeda γ¹ Andromedae Almach
Leo κ Leonis Al Minliar al Asad †
Grus α Gruis Alnair Alternative traditional spelling of Al Nair.
Sagittarius γ² Sagittarii Alnasl Derived from the Arabic النصل al-naşl meaning "arrowhead".[30]
Orion ε Orionis Alnilam Middle star in the belt of Orion. The traditional name Alnilam derives from the Arabic النيلم Al-nilam, related to the word 'nilam' 'sapphire'; related spellings are Alnihan and Alnitam.[7]:pp314-315
Orion ζ Orionis Alnitak Traditional name, alternately spelled Al Nitak or Alnitah, derived from the Arabic النطاق an-niṭāq, "the girdle".[7]:pp314-315
Scorpius τ Scorpii Alniyat †
Scorpius σ Scorpii Al Niyat †
Hydra α Hydrae Alphard
Corona Borealis α Coronae Borealis Alphecca
Andromeda α Andromedae Alpheratz
Cepheus γ Cephei Alrai †
Sagittarius α Sagittarii Alrami †
Pisces α Piscium Alrescha
Draco σ Draconis Alsafi †
Lynx 31 Lyncis Alsciaukat †
Aquila β Aquilae Alshain
Capricornus ν Capricorni Alshat †
Aquila α Aquilae Altair The name was originally Arabic النسر الطائر an-nasr aṭ-ṭā’ir "the flying eagle". In Chinese, 牵牛星 (Qiān Niú Xīng) or 牛郎星 ( Niú Láng Xīng), "Cow Herder Star" of the Qi Xi love story. One of the vertices of the Summer Triangle.
Draco δ Draconis Altais
Cancer β Cancri Altarf
Leo λ Leonis Alterf †
Aquila ι Aquilae Al Thalimain †
Aquila λ Aquilae Al Thalimain †
Canis Major η Canis Majoris Aludra
Ursa Major ξ Ursae Majoris Alula Australis
Ursa Major ν Ursae Majoris Alula Borealis
Draco β Draconis Alwaid †
Serpens θ¹ Serpentis Alya
Gemini ξ Geminorum Alzir †
Aquarius θ Aquarii Ancha
Eridanus τ² Eridani Angetenar †
  • The name is originally from Arabic عرجة النهر arjat an-nahr "bend of the river"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 天苑九 (Tiān Yuàn jiǔ, English: the Ninth Star of Celestial Meadow).[31]
Phoenix α Phoenicis Ankaa
Scorpius α Scorpii Antares Ancient Greek, Άντάρης, "against Ares (Mars)". It was known to Persian astrologers as a Royal star: Satevis, Watcher of the West.
Boötes α Boötis Arcturus
Virgo γ Virginis Arich †
Sagittarius β¹ Sagittarii A Arkab Prior
Sagittarius β² Sagittarii Arkab Posterior
Capricornus η Capricorni Armus †
Lepus α Leporis Arneb Traditional name Arneb derived from the Arabic أرنب ’arnab 'hare'[7]:p268 ('Lepus' is Latin for hare).
Draco μ Draconis Arrakis, Alrakis, Elrakis † The name was originally Arabic الراقص al-rāqiṣ "the dancer"
Sagittarius ζ Sagittarii Ascella
Cancer δ Cancri Asellus Australis
Cancer γ Cancri Asellus Borealis
Boötes θ Boötis Asellus Primus †
Boötes ι Boötis Asellus Secundus †
Boötes κ Boötis Asellus Tertius †
Sagittarius ζ Sagittarii Askella †
Carina ι Carinae Aspidiske
Canes Venatici β Canum Venaticorum Asterion †
Taurus 21 Tauri Asterope Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Asterope was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Perseus ο Persei Atik
Taurus 27 Tauri Atlas Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Atlas was the Titan god of endurance and astronomy[32] and the father of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Triangulum Australe α Trianguli Australis Atria
Virgo δ Virginis Auva †
Carina ε Carinae Avior Designated 'Avior' by Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office for the Royal Air Force in the 1930s.[33]
Auriga ζ Aurigae Azaleh †
Cygnus π¹ Cygni Azelfafage Variously reported as from Arabic السلحفاة as-sulaḥfāh "turtle", ألطلف ألفرس al thīlf al faras "horse track", or ألعزل ألدجاجة al ʽazal al-dajājah "tail of hen" [7]:pp192-197
Eridanus η Eridani Azha
  • The name is originally from Arabic اشيانة al-udhi "the hatching-place"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 天苑六 (Tiān Yuàn liù, English: the Sixth Star of Celestial Meadow).[31]
Puppis ξ Puppis Azmidiske †
Pegasus θ Pegasi Baham †
Cetus ζ Ceti Baten Kaitos
Eridanus ο¹ Eridani Beid
  • The name is originally from Arabic بيض al-bayd "the eggs".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 九州殊口二 (Jiǔ Zhōu Shū Kǒu èr, English: the Second Star of Interpreters of Nine Dialects).[8]
Orion γ Orionis Bellatrix Latin for "female warrior"; applied to this star in the 15th century.[34]
Ursa Major η Ursae Majoris Benetnasch †
Orion α Orionis Betelgeuse derived from the Arabic إبط الجوزاء Ibt al-Jauzā', meaning "the axilla of Orion", or يد الجوزاء Yad al-Jauzā', meaning "the hand of Orion"
Triangulum Australe β Trianguli Australis Betria †
Pegasus θ Pegasi Biham
Aries δ Arietis Botein
Libra σ Librae Brachium †
Aquarius ξ Aquarii Bunda †
Carina α Carinae Canopus Ptolemy's Κάνωβος, after Canopus (Kanopos, Kanobos), a pilot from Greek mythology, whose name is itself of uncertain etymology.
Auriga α Aurigae Capella The traditional name Capella (English: small female goat) is from Latin, and is a diminutive of the Latin Capra (English: female goat).[7]:p86
Cassiopeia β Cassiopeiae Caph * The name is originally Arabic كف kaf "palm", a residue of an old name of Cassiopeia, al-kaff al-khadib "the stained hand"; also known as al-sanam al-nakah "the camel's hump".
  • In Chinese, this star is called 王良一 (Wáng Liáng yī, English: the First Star of Wang Liang).[35]
Gemini α Geminorum Castor
Ophiuchus β Ophiuchi Cebalrai
Taurus 16 Tauri Celaeno Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Celaeno was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Ara μ Arae Cervantes Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the Spanish author of El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha.[36]
Ursa Major 47 Ursae Majoris Chalawan Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after a mythological crocodile king from a Thai folktale.[36]
Canes Venatici α² Canum Venaticorum Chara
Canes Venatici β Canum Venaticorum Chara
Ophiuchus β Ophiuchi Cheleb
Leo θ Leonis Chertan Alternative traditional name of Chort.
Serpens β Serpentis Chow †
Cancer 55 Cancri A Copernicus Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign[4] in honor of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.[36]
Canes Venatici α Canum Venaticorum Cor Caroli Named after Charles I of England by Sir Charles Scarborough[7][37][38]
Eridanus β Eridani Cursa
  • The name is originally from Arabic الكرسي al-kursi "the chair, footstool"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 玉井三 (Yù Jǐng sān, English: the Third Star of Jade Well).[39] R.H. Allen simplified the name as Yuh Tsing, "the Golden Well" in Chinese.[7]:218
Capricornus β¹ Capricorni Dabih
Cygnus α Cygni Deneb The name is originally from Arabic ذنب الدجاجة dhanab ad-Dajājah. In Chinese, Deneb is part of 鵲橋 "Magpie bridge" in the Qi Xi love story. Deneb is one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle.
Capricornus δ Capricorni Deneb Algedi †
Delphinus ε Delphini Deneb Dulfim †
Aquila ζ Aquilae Deneb el Okab †
Cetus ι Ceti Deneb Kaitos Schemali †
Leo β Leonis Denebola
Cetus η Ceti Dheneb †
Coma Berenices α Comae Berenices Diadem †
Cetus β Ceti Diphda Alternative traditional name of Deneb Kaitos.
Ursa Major ι Ursae Majoris Dnoces †
Scorpius δ Scorpii Dschubba
Ursa Major α Ursae Majoris Dubhe
Leo δ Leonis Duhr †
Draco ι Draconis Edasich Common name reviewed and adopted by the IAU Executive Committee WG Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites.[6]
Taurus 17 Tauri Electra Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Electra was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Triangulum α Trianguli Elmuthalleth †
Taurus β Tauri Elnath Variously El Nath or Alnath, from the Arabic word النطح an-naţħ, meaning "the butting" (i.e. the bull's horns).
Draco γ Draconis Eltanin Alternatively traditional name of Etamin; both originally from the Arabic name of the constellation التنين At-Tinnin "the great serpent". γ Dra was also one of the "Five Camels", Quinque Dromedarii, in Arabic Al ʽAwāïd.
Pegasus ε Pegasi Enif
Cepheus γ Cephei Errai Common name reviewed and adopted by the IAU Executive Committee WG Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites.[6]
Draco 42 Draconis Fafnir Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after a Norse mythological dwarf who turned into a dragon.[36]
Piscis Austrinus α Piscis Austrini Fomalhaut The name is originally from Arabic فم الحوت fum al-ḥawt "mouth of the fish". To Persian astrologers this was a Royal star: Haftorang, Watcher of the South. The name was reviewed and adopted by the IAU Executive Committee WG Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites.[6]
Pisces β Piscium Fum al Samakah †
Canis Major ζ Canis Majoris Furud
Crux γ Crucis Gacrux The name "Gacrux" is a contraction of the Bayer designation, coined by astronomer Elijah Hinsdale Burritt (1794-1838).[40][41]
Cepheus μ Cephei Garnet Star † Its colour was described as "garnet" by William Herschel. Following Herschel, it was called garnet sidus by Giuseppe Piazzi
Triangulum Australe γ Trianguli Australis Gatria †
Corona Borealis α Coronae Borealis Gemma †
Draco λ Draconis Gianfar †
Capricornus α Capricorni Giedi †
Corvus γ Corvi Gienah Traditionally, also known as Gienah Gurab. (The star ε Cygni is also traditionally known as Gienah.)
Scorpius κ Scorpii Girtab †
Canis Minor β Canis Minoris Gomeisa
Perseus ρ Persei Gorgonea Tertia †
Scorpius ξ Scorpii Graffias † The Italian for "claws"; also once applied to β Scorpii.[12][7]:p367
Draco ξ Draconis Grumium
Centaurus β Centauri Hadar
Auriga ζ Aurigae Haedus †
Auriga ε Aurigae Haldus †
Aries α Arietis Hamal Traditional name (also written Hemal, Hamul, Ras Hammel) deriving from the Arabic راس الحمل rās al-ħamal "head of the ram", in turn from the name for the constellation as a whole, Al Ħamal "the ram".[7]:pp78,80
Auriga ι Aurigae Hassaleh †
Pegasus 51 Pegasi Helvetios Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Latin for 'the Helvetian' and refers to the Celtic tribe that lived in Switzerland during antiquity.[36]
Hydrus α Hydri Head of Hydrus †
Orion λ Orionis Heka
Virgo ζ Virginis Heze †
Auriga ζ Aurigae Hoedus (I) †
Auriga η Aurigae Hoedus II †
Pegasus ζ Pegasi Homam
Taurus γ Tauri Hyadum I †
Taurus δ¹ Tauri Hyadum II †
Hydra ζ Hydrae Hydrobius †
Ursa Major 41 Lyncis Intercrus Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Intercrus means "between the legs" in Latin style, referring to the star's position in the constellation Ursa Major.[36]
Boötes ε Boötis Izar Originally from Arabic إزار izār "veil". In the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket designated منتقة ألعوع minṭáqa al awwa, translated into Latin as Cingulum Latratoris "belt of barker". Named Pulcherrima (most beautiful) by Otto Struve.[42]
Scorpius ν Scorpii Jabbah †
Auriga ι Aurigae Kabdhilinan †
Cetus γ Ceti Kaffaljidhma †
Hercules ω Herculis Kajam †
Capricornus ε Capricorni Kastra †
Sagittarius ε Sagittarii Kaus Australis
Sagittarius λ Sagittarii Kaus Borealis
Sagittarius δ Sagittarii Kaus Media
Eridanus 40 Eridani Keid The name is originally from Arabic القيض 'al-qaid "the broken egg-shells"
Equuleus α Equulei Kitalpha
Ursa Minor β Ursae Minoris Kochab
Hercules β Herculis Kornephoros
Corvus β Corvi Kraz †
Pisces η Piscium Kullat Nunu †
Draco ν Draconis Kuma †
Cepheus ξ Cephei Kurhah
Canes Venatici υ Canum Venaticorum La Superba A modern (19th century) name, due to Angelo Secchi
Scorpius υ Scorpii Lesath
Aquila ξ Aquilae Libertas Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Latin for 'liberty' ('Aquila' is Latin for 'eagle', a popular symbol of liberty).[36]
Vulpecula α Vulpeculae Lucida Anseris †
Hercules λ Herculis Maasym
Auriga θ Aurigae Mahasim †
Taurus 20 Tauri Maia Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Maia was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Cassiopeia θ Cassiopeiae Marfark †
  • The name is originally from Arabic المرفق al-mirfaq "the elbow"
  • In Chinese, this star is called 閣道四 (Gé Dào sì, English: the Fourth Star of Flying Corridor).[35]
Ophiuchus λ Ophiuchi Marfik
Pegasus α Pegasi Markab
Pegasus η Pegasi Matar
Gemini ε Geminorum Mebsuta
Sagittarius δ Sagittarii Media †
Ursa Major δ Ursae Majoris Megrez
Orion λ Orionis Meissa Traditional name deriving from the Arabic Al-Maisan 'The Shining One'.
Gemini ζ Geminorum Mekbuda
Cetus α Ceti Menkab †
Auriga β Aurigae Menkalinan
Cetus α Ceti Menkar Derived from the Arabic word منخر manħar "nostril" or Al Minhar "nose" (of Cetus).[43][7]:p162
Centaurus θ Centauri Menkent
Perseus ξ Persei Menkib
Ursa Major β Ursae Majoris Merak
Boötes 38 Boötis Merga
Taurus 23 Tauri Merope Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Merope was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Aries γ¹ Arietis Mesarthim
Carina β Carinae Miaplacidus
Crux β Crucis Mimosa Also bore the alternative historical name Becrux, a modern contraction of the Bayer designation.[44]
Hydra σ Hydrae Minchir †
Virgo δ Virginis Minelava †
Corvus ε Corvi Minkar †
Orion δ Orionis Mintaka Right-most star in the belt of Orion. The name Mintaka itself is derived from an Arabic term for 'belt': منطقة or manṭaqa.[7]:pp314-315
Cetus ο Ceti Mira Latin for 'wonderful' or 'astonishing'; named by Johannes Hevelius in his Historiola Mirae Stellae (1662).
Andromeda β Andromedae Mirach
Perseus η Persei Miram †
Perseus α Persei Mirfak
Canis Major β Canis Majoris Mirzam
Perseus κ Persei Misam †
Ursa Major ζ Ursae Majoris Mizar The name is originally from Arabic المئزر al-miʾzar "apron, waistband, girdle"
Triangulum α Trianguli Mothallah
Canis Major γ Canis Majoris Muliphein
Boötes η Boötis Muphrid Alternative traditional spelling of Mufrid
Canis Major β Canis Majoris Murzim †
Ursa Major ο Ursae Majoris Muscida
Ursa Major π Ursae Majoris Muscida †
Delphinus 18 Delphini Musica Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Latin for 'music' (the ancient Greek musician Arion's life was saved at sea by dolphins (Latin: 'delphinus') after attracting their attention by playing his kithara.[36]
Orion ι Orionis Nair Al Saif †
Puppis ζ Puppis Naos
Sagittarius γ² Sagittarii Nash †
Capricornus γ Capricorni Nashira
Cassiopeia γ Cassiopeia Navi † "Navi" is a modern name, due to Gus Grissom (his middle name "Ivan" spelled backward). In Chinese astronomy, it is known as "the whip".
Boötes β Boötis Nekkar
Andromeda 51 Andromedae Nembus †
Lepus β Leporis Nihal
Sagittarius σ Sagittarii Nunki
Corona Borealis β Coronae Borealis Nusakan
Hercules HD 149026 Ogma Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after Ogma, a deity in Celtic mythology[36]
Capricornus π Capricorni Okul †
Pavo α Pavonis Peacock Designated "Peacock" (after the constellation) by Her Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office for the Royal Air Force in the 1930s.[33]
Columba α Columbae Phact
Ursa Major γ Ursae Majoris Phecda Alternative traditional names Phekda or Phad.
Ursa Minor γ Ursae Minoris Pherkad
Ursa Minor δ Ursae Minoris Pherkard †
Taurus 28 Tauri Pleione Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Pleione was the mother of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Ursa Minor α Ursae Minoris Polaris Became known as Polaris during the Renaissance, derived from the Latin for 'of/near the (north) pole'.[45] other traditional names include Cynosure; north star, pole star, lodestar etc. Latin stella polaris, stella maris; Sanskrit dhruva tāra "fixed star"; Arabic القطب الشماليal-kutb al-shamaliyy "the northern axle", among others.
Octans σ Octantis Polaris Australis †
Gemini β Geminorum Pollux
Virgo γ Virginis Porrima
Leo Minor 46 Leonis Minoris Praecipua †
Canis Minor α Canis Minoris Procyon Greek προκύον "preceding the Dog (viz. Sirius)"; in Latin rendered as Antecanis.
Gemini η Geminorum Propus
Centaurus α Centauri C Proxima Centauri
Eridanus ε Eridani Ran Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after the Norse goddess of the sea.[36]
Eridanus δ Eridani Rana † Rana is Latin for "frog". In Chinese, this star is called 天苑三 (Tiān Yuàn sān, English: the Third Star of Celestial Meadows).[31]
Hercules α¹ Herculis Rasalgethi Alternative traditional spelling of Ras Algethi.
Ophiuchus α Ophiuchi Rasalhague Alternative traditional spelling of Ras Alhgue.
Leo ε Leonis Ras Elased Australis †
Leo μ Leonis Rasalas
Draco β Draconis Rastaban
Vela γ Velorum Regor † Also known as Suhail and Suhail al Muhlif, which confusingly also apply to lambda Velorum
Leo α Leonis Regulus Latin for 'prince' or 'little king'. Regulus was known to Persian astrologers as the Royal star Venant, Watcher of the North.
Orion β Orionis Rigel Traditional name first recorded in the Alfonsine Tables of 1252 and derived from the Arabic name Rijl Jauzah al Yusrā, "the left leg (foot) of Jauzah" (i.e. rijl meaning "leg, foot").[7]:pp312-313
Centaurus α Centauri A Rigil Kentaurus The name is originally from Arabic رجل قنطورس rijl qantūris "foot of the centaur".
Virgo μ Virginis Rijl al Awwa †
Delphinus β Delphini Rotanev
Cygnus ω² Cygni Ruchba †
Cassiopeia δ Cassiopeiae Ruchbah Derived from the Arabic word ركبة rukbah meaning "knee".[46] Alternative historical name Ksora appeared in a 1951 publication, Atlas Coeli (Skalnate Pleso Atlas of the Heavens) by Czech astronomer Antonín Bečvář; Professor Paul Kunitzch has been unable to find any clues as to the origin of the name.[47]

In Chinese, this star is called 閣道三 (Gé Dào sān, English: the Third Star of Flying Corridor).[35]

Sagittarius α Sagittarii Rukbat
Ophiuchus η Ophiuchi Sabik
Aquarius γ Aquarii Sadachbia
Pegasus μ Pegasi Sadalbari
Aquarius α Aquarii Sadalmelik
Aquarius β Aquarii Sadalsuud
Auriga ζ Aurigae Sadatoni †
Cygnus γ Cygni Sadr
Orion κ Orionis Saiph Traditional name from the Arabic saif al jabbar, 'سیف الجبّار' literally sword of the giant.[48]
Pegasus τ Pegasi Salm †
Scorpius θ Scorpii Sargas
Hercules δ Herculis Sarin
Ursa Major θ Ursae Majoris Sarir †
Eridanus 53 Eridani Sceptrum † formerly "p Sceptri", in the constellation of Sceptrum Brandenburgicum
Pegasus β Pegasi Scheat
Capricornus δ Capricorni Scheddi †
Cassiopeia α Cassiopeiae Schedar
  • Also traditionally bore the name Schedir; both originally from Arabic صدر şadr "breast"; also ألضة ألكرسي al-dhāt al-kursiyy "the lady in the chair (Ulugh Beg), whence Dath Elkarti (Riccoli 1651).
  • In Chinese, this star is called 王良四 (Wáng Liáng sì, English: the Fourth Star of Wang Liang).[35]
Cassiopeia ε Cassiopeia Segin † Probably originates from an erroneous transcription of Seginus, the traditional name for γ Boötis, which itself is of uncertain origin.[49]

In Chinese, this star is called 閣道二 (Gé Dào èr, English: the Second Star of Flying Corridor).[35]

Boötes γ Boötis Seginus Of uncertain origin.[49]
Sagitta α Sagittae Sham
Scorpius λ Scorpii Shaula
Lyra β Lyrae Sheliak
Aries β Arietis Sheratan
Ophiuchus ν Ophiuchi Sinistra †
Canis Major α Canis Majoris Sirius Greek Σείριος "the scorcher"; in Egyptian Sopdet, rendered in Greek as Σῶθις. As the brightest star in the sky, Sirius has proper names in numerous cultures, including Polynesian (Maori Takurua; Hawaiian Ka'ulua, "Queen of Heaven", among others). Also known as the Dog Star.
Aquarius κ Aquarii Situla
Aquarius δ Aquarii Skat
Virgo α Virginis Spica Another traditional names are Azimech, from Arabic السماك الأعزل al-simāk al-a‘zal 'the Undefended', and Alarph, Arabic for 'the Grape Gatherer'; in Indian astronomy known as Chitra "the bright one".
Taurus 22 Tauri Sterope
Delphinus α Delphini Sualocin
Leo ο Leonis Subra
Vela λ Velorum Suhail Traditionally, this name also applied to gamma Velorum, also known as Regor.
Lyra γ Lyrae Sulafat
Virgo ι Virginis Syrma
Orion π³ Orionis Tabit †
Ursa Major κ Ursae Majoris Talitha Australis †
Ursa Major ι Ursae Majoris Talitha Alternative traditional name Talitha Borealis.
Ursa Major μ Ursae Majoris Tania Australis
Ursa Major λ Ursae Majoris Tania Borealis
Aquila γ Aquilae Tarazed Alternative traditional spelling of Tarazet
Taurus 19 Tauri Taygeta Member of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45). Taygete was one of the Pleiades sisters in Greek mythology.
Cancer ζ¹ Cancri Tegmine Alternative traditional name of Tegmen.
Sagittarius ω Sagittarii Terebellum † from Ptolemy's τετράπλευρον, a quadrangle of stars of which ω Sag is the brightest
Gemini μ Geminorum Tejat Posterior †
Gemini η Geminorum Tejat Prior †
Orion υ Orionis Thabit †
Eridanus υ² Eridani Theemin, Beemin † In Chinese, this star is called 天園十二 (Tiān Yuàn shíèr, English: the Twelfth Star of Celestial Meadows).[31]
Draco α Draconis Thuban
Taurus ζ Tauri Tien Kwan †
  • In Chinese 天關 (Tiānguān, English: Celestial Gate).
  • Also reported as Shurnarkabti-sha-shūtū, from Babylonian as "the Star in the Bull towards the South" or "the Southern Star towards the Chariot".[7]:p391
Andromeda υ Andromedae A Titawin Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after the settlement in northern Morocco and UNESCO World Heritage Site now known as the medina (old town) of Tétouan.[36]
Camelopardalis HD 104985 Tonatiuh Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Named after the Aztec god of the Sun.[36]
Pisces ο Piscium Torcularis Septentrionalis †
Puppis ρ Puppis Tureis
Draco ε Draconis Tyl †
Serpens α Serpentis Unukalhai Alternative traditional name of Unuk
Lyra α Lyrae Vega The name is originally from Arabic an-nasr al-wāqi‘ "the alighting vulture", also translated as vulture cadens (see also Aetos Dios, Stymphalian birds). As the second brightest star in the northern sky, Vega has names in numerous cultures. In Chinese it is known as 織女 "weaving girl" from the Qi Xi love story. Vega is one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle.
Andromeda 14 Andromedae Veritate Name adopted by the IAU following the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[4] Latin for 'where there is truth'.[36]
Virgo ε Virginis Vindemiatrix Vindemiatrix is the Latin for "grape gatherer"
Gemini δ Geminorum Wasat
Columba β Columbae Wazn
Canis Major δ Canis Majoris Wezen
Ophiuchus δ Ophiuchi Yed Prior
Ophiuchus ε Ophiuchi Yed Posterior
Ursa Minor δ Ursae Minoris Yildun
Virgo η Virginis Zaniah
Eridanus γ Eridani Zaurak Traditional name, alternatively spelled Zaurac; originally from Arabic زورق zawraq "boat".[7]:p218

In Chinese, this star is called 天園一 (Tiān Yuàn yī, English: the First Star of Celestial Meadows).[31]

Virgo β Virginis Zavijava
Eridanus ζ Eridani Zibal
Leo δ Leonis Zosma
Libra γ Librae Zuben-el-Akrab †
Libra δ Librae Zuben-el-Akribi †
Libra α² Librae Zubenelgenubi Alternative traditional names of Zuben-el-genubi or Lanx Australis
Libra β Librae Zubeneschamali Alternative traditional names of Zuben-el-schemali or Lanx Borealis

See also

References

  1. The NASA in 1971 compiled a "technical memorandum" collecting a total of 537 named stars.
  2. "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1" (PDF). Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released" (Press release). IAU.org. 15 December 2015.
  5. "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 2" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Allen, Richard Hinckley (1963) [1899]. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. ISBN 0-486-21079-0.
  8. 1 2 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 13 日
  9. 1 2 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 27 日
  10. "Eta Cassiopeia (Achird) 2". SolStation.com. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  11. Kaler, Jim. "Achird". Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  12. 1 2 R. G. Aitken Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Vol. 36, No. 211 (June, 1924), pp. 124-130 JSTOR 40692425
  13. Memoirs of the Rev. Walter M. Lowrie: missionary to China (1849), p. 93. Described as an "Americanism" in The Geographical Journal, vol. 92, Royal Geographical Society, 1938.
  14. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 19 日
  15. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 16 日
  16. Flamsteed, John (1725). Historia Coelestis Britannica. H. Meere. p. 47.
  17. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 23 日
  18. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 3 日
  19. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 10 日
  20. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 12 日
  21. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 14 日
  22. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 22 日
  23. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 3 月 22 日
  24. Falkner, David E. (2011). "The Winter Constellations". The Mythology of the Night Sky. Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series. p. 19. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0137-7_3. ISBN 978-1-4614-0136-0.
  25. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 3 月 23 日
  26. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 6 日
  27. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 5 日
  28. (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 10 日
  29. Jetsu, L.; Porceddu, S. (2015). "Shifting Milestones of Natural Sciences: The Ancient Egyptian Discovery of Algol's Period Confirmed". PLOS ONE. 10(12): e.0144140 (23pp). arXiv:1601.06990Freely accessible. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1044140J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144140.
  30. Ridpath, Ian (1989), Star tales, James Clarke & Co., p. 113, ISBN 0-7188-2695-7
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 12 日
  32. Stenner, Paul (auth.); Martin, Jack. Slaney, Kathleen L. Sugarman, Jeff. (edit.) The Wiley Handbook of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology: Methods, Approaches, and New Directions for Social Sciences. John Wiley & Sons, 2015; pg. 311.
  33. 1 2 Sadler, Donald H. (2008). "A Personal History of H.M. Nautical Almanac Office" (PDF). United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. p. 48. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  34. Kunitzsch, Paul (1986). "The Star Catalogue Commonly Appended to the Alfonsine Tables". Journal for the History of Astronomy. 17 (49): 89–98. Bibcode:1986JHA....17...89K.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 9 日
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 NameExoWorlds The Approved Names
  37. Robert Burnham, Jr. Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume 1, p. 359.
  38. Ian Ridpath: "Star Tales", Canes Venatici. See also Deborah J. Warner, The Sky Explored: Celestial Cartography 1500-1800.
  39. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 25 日
  40. "Gacrux/Gamma Crucis 2?". SolStation.com. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
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  42. Norton's Star Atlas, publ. Gall & Inglis, Edinburgh, 2nd Ed., 1959
  43. Kaler, James B., "MENKAR (Alpha Ceti)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2011-12-24
  44. Hoffleit, Dorrit; Jaschek, Carlos (1991). The Bright star catalogue. New Haven. Bibcode:1991bsc..book.....H.
  45. 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 Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-931559-44-7.
  46. Bakich, Michael E. (1995), The Cambridge guide to the constellations, Cambridge University Press, p. 170, ISBN 0-521-44921-9
  47. Kunitzch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006) [1986]. A Dictionary of Modern Star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Publishing Corporation. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-931559-44-7.
  48. Kaler, James B., "SAIPH (Kappa Orionis)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2012-01-27
  49. 1 2 Simpson, Phil (2012). "3". Guidebook to the constellations. New York: Springer. ISBN 9781441969408.

General references

External links

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