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 |
|
Eridanus | α Eridani A | Achernar |
|
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 |
|
Canis Major | ε Canis Majoris | Adhara |
|
Andromeda | ξ Andromedae | Adhil | |
Taurus | ε Tauri | Ain |
|
Lyra | η Lyrae | Aladfar † |
|
Andromeda | γ Andromedae | Alamak † |
|
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 † |
|
Aquarius | ε Aquarii | Albali |
|
Cygnus | β¹ Cygni | Albireo |
|
Corvus | α Corvi | Alchiba |
|
Ursa Major | 80 Ursae Majoris | Alcor | |
Taurus | η Tauri | Alcyone |
|
Taurus | α Tauri | Aldebaran |
|
Cepheus | α Cephei | Alderamin |
|
Leo | ζ Leonis | Aldhafera † | Other name of ζ Leonis (see Adhafera) |
Grus | γ Gruis | Aldhanab † |
|
Draco | ζ Draconis | Aldhibain † |
|
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 † |
|
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 |
|
Puppis | ξ Puppis | Azmidiske † | |
Pegasus | θ Pegasi | Baham † | |
Cetus | ζ Ceti | Baten Kaitos | |
Eridanus | ο¹ Eridani | Beid |
|
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".
|
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 | |
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 † |
|
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 策 cè "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 | |
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 † |
|
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
- List of Arabic star names
- List of nearest bright stars
- Biblical names of stars
- Stars named after people
- Table of stars with Bayer designations
- Traditional Chinese star names
References
- ↑ The NASA in 1971 compiled a "technical memorandum" collecting a total of 537 named stars.
- ↑ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ↑ "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1" (PDF). Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- 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.
- ↑ "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 2" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- 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.
- 1 2 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 13 日
- 1 2 (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 27 日
- ↑ "Eta Cassiopeia (Achird) 2". SolStation.com. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ↑ Kaler, Jim. "Achird". Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- 1 2 R. G. Aitken Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Vol. 36, No. 211 (June, 1924), pp. 124-130 JSTOR 40692425
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 19 日
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 16 日
- ↑ Flamsteed, John (1725). Historia Coelestis Britannica. H. Meere. p. 47.
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 23 日
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 3 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 10 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 12 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 14 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 22 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 3 月 22 日
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 3 月 23 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 6 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 5 日
- ↑ (Chinese) (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 10 日
- ↑ 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:1601.06990. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1044140J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144140.
- ↑ Ridpath, Ian (1989), Star tales, James Clarke & Co., p. 113, ISBN 0-7188-2695-7
- 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
- ↑ 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.
- 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 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
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 NameExoWorlds The Approved Names
- ↑ Robert Burnham, Jr. Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume 1, p. 359.
- ↑ Ian Ridpath: "Star Tales", Canes Venatici. See also Deborah J. Warner, The Sky Explored: Celestial Cartography 1500-1800.
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 25 日
- ↑ "Gacrux/Gamma Crucis 2?". SolStation.com. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ↑ Lesikar, Arnold V. "Gacrux". Dome Of The Sky. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ↑ Norton's Star Atlas, publ. Gall & Inglis, Edinburgh, 2nd Ed., 1959
- ↑ Kaler, James B., "MENKAR (Alpha Ceti)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2011-12-24
- ↑ Hoffleit, Dorrit; Jaschek, Carlos (1991). The Bright star catalogue. New Haven. Bibcode:1991bsc..book.....H.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Bakich, Michael E. (1995), The Cambridge guide to the constellations, Cambridge University Press, p. 170, ISBN 0-521-44921-9
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Kaler, James B., "SAIPH (Kappa Orionis)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2012-01-27
- 1 2 Simpson, Phil (2012). "3". Guidebook to the constellations. New York: Springer. ISBN 9781441969408.
General references
- Kunitzsch, Paul and Smart, Tim, A Dictionary of Modern Star Names (2006)
- Rhoads, J. W. Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, NASA-CR-124573, (1971)
External links
- SIMBAD online
- Coleman, L. S., "Star Names" @Frosty Drew Observatory.
- Dolan, C., "List of Named Stars in Alphabetical Order": Chris Dolan's Home Page @UW-Madison Astronomy Department.
- Kaler, J. B. "Jim", "Star Names - Proper Names" @University of Illinois.
- Gibson, S. J.,"Star Names": Gibson's website @Arecibo Observatory.
- Harper, D., Stockman, L M.,"(Un)Common Star Names": SkyEye.
- Krochmal, M. S. "Mike","Proper names - stars and other objects" @Autoscan Systems Pty. Ltd.
- Ridpath, I., Star Names, "Popular names of stars": Ian Ridpath's Home page.
- Smith, W. B., (1996) "FK5 - SAO - HD - Common Name Cross Index": (VizieR archive @CDS).