This is a list of traditional Arabic names for stars. In Western astronomy, most of the accepted star names are Arabic, a few are Greek and some are of unknown origin. Typically only bright stars have names.[1]
History of Arabic star names
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Very old star names originated among people who lived in the Arabian Peninsula more than a thousand years ago, before the rise of Islam. However, many Arabic language star names sprang up later in history, as translations of ancient Greek language descriptions.
The astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in his Almagest (2nd century) tabulated the celestial position and brightness (visual magnitude) of 1,025 stars. Ptolemy's book was translated into Arabic in the 8th and 9th centuries and became famous in Europe as a 12th-century Latin translation. Many of the Arabic-language star descriptions in the Almagest came to be widely used as names for stars.
Ptolemy used a strategy of "figure reference" to identify stars according to their position within a familiar constellation or asterism (e.g., "in the right shoulder of The Hunter"). Muslim astronomers adopted some of these as proper names for stars, and added names from traditional Arabic star lore, which they recorded in various Zij treatises. The most notable of these is the Book of Fixed Stars written by the Muslim astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (known as Azophi in the West), who thoroughly illustrated all the stars known to him along with their observations, descriptions, positions, magnitudes, brightness, and color.
In Europe, during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, many ancient star names were copied or translated incorrectly by various writers, some of whom did not know the Arabic language very well. As a result, the history of a star's name can be complicated.[2]
A
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Acamar |
Ākhir an-Nahr |
End of the river |
آخر النهر |
| Achernar |
Ākhir an-Nahr |
End of the river |
آخر النهر |
| Acrab |
al-ʿAqrab |
the Scorpion |
عقرب |
| Açubens |
az-Zubanāh |
the Claw |
الزبانى |
| Adhafera |
ad-Dhafīrah |
the Braid or Curl (of the lion's mane) |
الضفيرة |
| Adhara |
al-ʿAdhāra |
the Virgins |
العذارى |
| Adhil |
ad-Dhayl |
the Tail |
الذيل |
| Adib |
Al-dhi'b |
The wolf |
الذئب |
| Ain |
ʿAin |
the Eye (of the bull) |
عين |
| Albali |
al-Bāliʿ |
the Swallower |
البالع |
| Alchibah |
al-Khibā |
the Tent |
الخباء |
| Alcor |
al-Khawwār |
the Faint One |
الخوّار |
| Aldebaran |
al-Dabarān |
the Follower (of the Pleiades) |
الدبران |
| Alderamin |
ad-Dhirāʿ al-Yamīn |
the Right Arm (of Cepheus) |
الذراع الأيمن |
| Alfirk |
al-Firqah |
the Flock of sheep |
الفرقة |
| Algebar |
(Rijl) al-Jabbār |
(Foot of) the Giant |
رجل الجبار |
| Algedi |
al-Jady |
the Goat |
الجدي |
| Algenib |
al-Janb |
the Flank (of Pegasus) |
الجنب |
| Algieba |
al-Jabhah |
the Forehead (of the Lion) |
الجبهة |
| Algol |
(Ra's) al-Ghūl |
(Head of) the Ghoul |
رأس الغول |
| Algorab |
al-Ghurāb |
the Crow |
الغراب |
| Alhena |
al-Hanʿah |
the Brand (on the neck of the camel) |
الهنعة |
| Alioth |
Al-Jawn |
The black horse "John" |
الجون |
| Alkaid |
al-Qā'id (bināt naʿsh) |
the Leader (of the mourning maidens) |
القائد بنات نعش |
| Alkes |
al-Ka's |
the Cup |
الكأس |
| Almak |
al-ʿAnāq al-Arđ̧ |
the Caracal |
عناق الأرض |
| Almeisan |
al-Maisān |
the Shining one |
الميسان |
| Alnair |
an-Nayyir |
the Bright one |
النّيّر |
| Alnasl |
al-Naşl |
the Blade |
النصل |
| Alnilam |
an-Niżām |
the String of Pearls |
النّظم |
| Alnitak |
an-Niṭāq |
the Girdle (Orion's Belt) |
النطاق |
| Alphard |
al-Fard |
the Solitary one |
الفرد |
| Alphecca |
(Nayyir) al-Fakka |
(the Bright one of) the Broken (Ring) |
نير الفكّة |
| Alpheratz |
(Surrat) al-Faras |
(Navel of) the Mare |
سُرَّة الفرس |
| Alrescha |
al-Rišā’ |
the Well-Rope |
الرشاء |
| Alsafi |
al-Athāfiyy |
the Tripods |
الأثافي |
| Alsuhail |
Suhail |
Glorious |
سهيل |
| Altair |
(an-Nisr) aṭ-Ṭā’ir |
the Flying (Eagle) |
النّسر الطّائر |
| Altais |
at-Tāis |
the Goat |
التيس |
| Alterf |
aṭ-Ṭarf |
the View (of the Lion) |
الطرف |
| Aludra |
al-ʿUdhrah |
Virginity |
العذرة |
| Alula Australis, Alula Borealis |
(al-Qafzah) al-Ūla |
the First (Leap) |
القفزة الأولى |
| Alya |
al-Alyah |
the fatty Tail of a sheep |
الألية |
| Angetenar |
ʿArjat an-Nahr |
Curve of the River |
عرجة النهر |
| Ankaa |
al-ʿAnqā’ |
Phoenix |
العنقاء |
| Arkab |
al-ʿArqūb |
the Hamstring |
العرقوب |
| Arneb |
al-Arnab |
the Hare |
الأرنب |
| Arrakis |
ar-Rāqiṣ |
the Dancer |
الراقص |
| Atik |
al-ʿAtiq |
the Shoulder (of Perseus) |
عاتق الثّريّا |
| Auva |
al-ʿAwwā' |
the Barking (Dog) |
العوّاء |
| Azha |
(Persian) Āšiyāne |
(Ostrich) Nest |
|
B
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Baham |
Sa'd al-Biham |
Luck of the Young Beasts |
سعد البهام |
| Baten Kaitos |
Batn Qaytus |
Belly of Cetus |
بطن قيطس |
| Beid |
Baiḍ |
Eggs |
بيض |
| Benetnash |
Banat Naʿsh |
Daughters of the bier |
بنات النعش |
| Betelgeuse |
Ibt al-Jauzā' |
Armpit of the Central One |
إبط الجوزاء |
| Botein |
al-Buṭayn |
the Belly (of the ram) |
بطين |
C
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Caph |
al-Kaff al-Khadib |
the Palm (reaching from the Pleiades) |
الكـــف الخضيب |
| Celbalrai |
Kalb ar-Raʿi |
the Shepherd's Dog |
كلب الراعي |
| Chort |
al-Kharāt |
the Rib |
الخرت |
| Cursa |
Kursiyy al-Jauzah |
the Chair or Footstool (of Orion) |
الكرسي |
D
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Dabih |
Saʿd adh-Dhābiḥ |
the lucky star of the Slaughterer |
سّعد الذّابح |
| Deneb |
Dhanab ad-Dajājah |
Tail of the hen |
ذنب الدجاجة |
| Deneb Algedi |
Dhanab al-Jady |
Tail of the goat |
ذنب الجدي |
| Deneb Dulfim |
Dhanab ad-Dulfīn |
Tail of the Dolphin |
ذنب الدّلفين |
| Deneb Kaitos |
Dhanab al-Qaiṭos (al-Janūbīyy) |
(Southern) Tail of Cetus |
ذنب القيتوس الجنوبي |
| Denebola |
Dhanab al-Asad |
Tail of the lion |
ذنب الاسد |
| Diphda |
aḍ-Ḍifdaʿ aṯ-ṯānī |
the (second) Frog |
الضّفدع الثاني |
| Dschubba |
al-Jabhah |
the Forehead (of the scorpion) |
الجبهة |
| Dubhe |
Kahil ad-Dubb |
(the back of) the Bear |
كاهل الدّب |
| Dziban |
adh-Dhi'ban |
the Two Wolves or Jackals |
الذئبان |
E
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Edasich |
adh-Dhikh |
the Hyena |
الذّيخ |
| El Nath |
an-Nath |
the butting (of the bull's horns) |
النطح |
| Eltanin |
at-Tinnin |
the Great Serpent |
التنين |
| Enif |
al-Anf |
the Nose (of Pegasus) |
الأنف |
| Errai |
ar-Rāʿī |
the Shepherd |
الراعي |
F
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Fomalhaut |
Fum al-Ḥūt |
Mouth of the Whale |
فم الحوت |
| Furud |
al-Furud |
the bright Single ones (but see that article) |
الفرد |
G
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Gienah |
al-Janāħ |
the Wing |
الجناح |
| Gomeisa |
al-Ghumaisa' |
the Bleary-eyed one |
الغميصاء |
H
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Hadar |
Ḥadār |
Settlement |
حضار |
| Hamal |
Rās al-Ḥamal |
(head of) the Ram |
رأس الحمل |
| Heka |
al-Haqʿah |
the White Spot |
الهقعة |
| Homam |
Saʿd al-Humām |
the Lucky star of the High-minded |
سعد الهمام |
I
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Izar |
Al-Izar |
The girdle, or, The loin-cloth |
الإزار |
J
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Jabbah |
al-Jabhah |
the Forehead (of the scorpion) |
الجبهة |
K
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Kabdhilinan |
Kaʿb Đil-ʿinan |
the Shoulder of the Rein-holder |
كعب ذي العنان |
| Kaffaljidhma |
al-Kaff al-Jadhma' |
the Cut-short Hand |
الكف الجذماء |
| Kaus Australis, Kaus Media, Kaus Borealis |
al-Qaus |
the Bow |
القوس |
| Keid |
al-Qaiḍ |
the (broken egg) Shells |
القيض |
| Kitalpha |
Qiṭʿat al-Faras |
Part of the Horse |
قطعة الفرس |
| Kochab |
al-Kaukab |
the Star |
كوكب |
| Kurhah |
al-Qurhah |
the Blaze on a horse's brow |
القرحة |
L
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Lesath |
al-Lasʿah |
The sting |
اللسعة |
| Luh-Denebola / Denebola |
Dhanab al-Asad/al-Layth |
the lion's tail |
ذنب الاسد/الليث |
M
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Maasym |
al-Miʿsam |
the Wrist (of Hercules) |
معصم الثّريّا |
| Maaz |
al-Māʿz |
the he-Goat |
المعز |
| Mankib |
Mankib (al-Faras) |
the Shoulder (of the Horse) |
منكب الفرس |
| Marfik |
al-Mirfaq |
the Elbow |
المرفق |
| Markab |
Markab (al-Faras) |
the Saddle (of the Horse) |
منكب الفرس |
| Matar |
al-Saʽd al-Maṭar |
the lucky star of Rain |
سعد مطر |
| Mebsuta |
al-Mabsūṭah |
the Outstretched (Paw) |
الذّراع المبسوطه |
| Megrez |
al-Maghriz |
the Base of the bear's tail |
مغرز |
| Meissa |
al-Maisan |
the Shining one |
الميسان |
| Mekbuda |
al-Maqbuḍah |
the Folded (Arm) |
الذّراع المقبوضة |
| Menkalinan |
Mankib Dhī-l-ʿInān |
Shoulder of the Rein-holder |
منكب ذي العنان |
| Menkar |
al-Minḫar |
the Nostril |
المنخر |
| Menkent |
Mankib al-Qanturis |
the Shoulder of the Centaur |
منكب قنطورس |
| Menkib |
Al-Mankib |
"The shoulder" of the Pleiades |
منكب الثّريّا |
| Merak |
al-Marāqq |
the loins (of the bear) |
المراق |
| Mintaka |
al-Minṭaqa |
the Belt (of Orion) |
المنطقة |
| Mirak |
al-Marāqq |
the Loin-cloth |
المراق |
| Mirfak |
al-Mirfaq |
the Elbow |
مرفق الثّريّا |
| Mizar |
al-Miʼzar |
the Apron |
المئزر |
| Mothallah |
Ra's-ul-Muthallath |
(Head of) the Triangle |
المثلث |
| Muphrid |
Mufrid-ur-Rāmiḥ |
the Solitary one of the Lancer |
المفرد |
| Murzim |
al-Murzim |
the Herald |
المرزم |
N
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Nashira |
Saʿd Nashirah |
Lucky star of Nashirah |
سعد ناشرة |
| Nekkar |
al-Baqqār |
the Cattleman |
البقار |
| Nihal |
an-Nihal |
(camels) Quenching their thirst |
النهال |
| Nusakan |
an-Nasaqān |
The two arrays |
النسقان |
| Nushaba / Alnasl |
Zujj al-Nashshaba / an-Naşl |
the Arrowhead |
النصل / نشابة |
O
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Okda |
al-ʿUqdah |
the Knot |
العقدة |
P
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Phact |
al-Fākhitah |
the Dove |
فاخثة |
| Phad |
al-Fakhidh |
the Thigh |
فخذ |
| Pherkad |
al-Farqad |
the Calf |
فرقد |
R
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Rasalased |
Ra's-ul-Assad |
Head of the lion |
رأس الأسد |
| Rasalgethi |
Ra's-ul-Jathī |
Head of the Kneeler |
رأس الجاثي |
| Rasalhague |
Ra's-ul-Ḥawwāʾ |
Head of the Snake-man |
رأس الحوّاء |
| Rastaban |
Ra's-uth-Thuʿban |
Head of the Snake |
رأس الثعبان |
| Rigel |
Rijl-ul-Jabbār |
Foot of the Giant |
رجل الجبّار |
| Rigilkent |
Rijl Qanṭūris |
Foot of the Centaur |
رجل القنطورس |
| Risha |
al-Rišā’ |
the Well-Rope |
الرشاء |
| Rukbah |
ar-Rukbah |
the Knee |
الركبة |
| Rukbat |
Rukbat-ur-Rāmī |
Knee of the archer |
ركبة الرامي |
S
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Sabik |
as-Sabiq |
the Preceding |
السابق |
| Sadachbia |
Saʿd-ul-Akhbiyah |
Lucky star of the Tents |
سعد الاخبية |
| Sadalbari |
Saʿd-ul-Bariʿ |
Lucky star of the Splendid one |
سعد البارع |
| Sadalmelik |
Saʿd-ul-Malik |
Lucky star of the King |
سعد الملك |
| Sadalsuud |
Saʿd-us-Suʿūd |
Luck of Lucks |
سعد السعود |
| Sadr |
as-Ṣadr |
the Breast (of the hen) |
الصدر |
| Saiph |
as-Saif |
the Sword (of Orion) |
السيف |
| Scheat |
as-Sāʿid |
the Shoulder |
الساعد |
| Shaula |
ash-Šawlā |
the Raised (tail of the scorpion) |
الشولة |
| Shedir |
as-Ṣadr |
the Breast |
الصدر |
| Sheliak |
Šiliyāq |
Lyra |
الشلياق |
| Sheratan |
aš-Šarāţān |
the Two Signs |
الشرطان |
| Sirrah |
Surrah |
Navel (of the Mare) |
سُرَّة الفرس |
| Skat |
as-Saq (or Ši'at) |
the Leg (or the Wish) |
الساق / شئت |
| Sulafat |
as-Sulḥafāt |
the Tortoise |
السلحفاة |
T
U
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Unukalhai |
ʿUnuq-ul-Ḥayyah |
Neck of the Snake |
عنق الحية |
V
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Vega |
an-Nisr al-Wāqiʿ |
the Falling Eagle |
النسر الواقع |
W
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Wasat |
Wasat as-Samā' |
"Middle" of the sky |
وسط السماء |
| Wezen |
al-Wazn |
the Weight |
الوزن |
| Wezn |
al-Wazn |
the Weight |
الوزن |
Y
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Yed Posterior |
al-Yad |
(Back of the Snake Man's) Hand |
مؤخّر يد الحوّاء |
| Yed Prior |
al-Yad |
(Palm of the Snake Man's) Hand |
مقدّم يد الحوّاء |
Z
| Common name |
Arabic name (transliteration) |
Meaning |
Arabic name |
| Zaurac |
az-Zawraq |
the Boat |
الزورق |
| Zavijava |
Zāwiyat-ul-ʿAwwā' |
the Angle of the Barking Dog |
زاوية العواء |
| Zawiah |
az-Zawiyah |
The angle |
الزاوية |
| Zubenelgenubi |
az-Zubān-ul-Janūbi |
Southern Claw (of the scorpion) |
الزبان الجنوبي |
| Zubeneshamali |
az-Zubān-ush-Šamāli |
Northern Claw (of the scorpion) |
الزبان الشمالي |
Others
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Star Names: Where Do They Come From? And Can You Buy One?", RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996, (archived 2007)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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