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Triangulum

2026-01-05T17:11:39Z

IanRidpath: /* IAU WGSN naming */

[[File:Triangulum IAU.svg|alt=star chart|thumb|Tri star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
[[File:Tri kugel.jpg|alt=drawing of the constellation |thumb|Constellation Trianugulum on the 10 cm silver globe from the Kugel collection (Paris), dating 1st century BCE.]]
[[File:Kugel Globe Tri.JPG|thumb|Earliest known depiction of Triangulum on the Kugel Globe (first century BCE), drawing by SMH 2025.<ref>Hoffmann (2025), Some Results on the Ancient Globes, Globe Studies – The Journal of the International Coronelli Society, 69, 4169.</ref> ]]
One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations|88 IAU constellations]]. In Greek antiquity, it was called either '''Trigonon''' (Τρίγωνον; triangle), or alternatively '''Deltoton''' (Δελτωτόν; the letter Delta: Δ). The alternative name incorporates the religious connection for the ancients, but the constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe and the Mainz Globe.

==Etymology and History==
=== Origin of Constellation ===
The triangle constellation is ancient Greek. It did not exist in Mesopotamia; the stars probably belonged to the Babylonian constellation of the Hired Man, mul lu2[[ḪUN.GA2|ḪUN.GA2]] ([[Aries]]). Although it was consistently present as a separate constellation in Greece, the authors disagree about its meaning. Aratos calls it ‘the sign’; the mathematical astronomers call it ‘triangle’. Accordingly, Eratosthenes notes that some interpret it as the initial letter of the word ‘Dios’, i.e., as the Greek capital letter Δ (Delta). Dios is the genitive of the name of Zeus. The astronomer reports that when Hermes arranged the constellations in the sky, he inserted ‘of Zeus’ as a possessive inscription - i.e. ‘constellations of Zeus’, the highest god.

Alternatively, Eratosthenes, the librarian of Alexandria and teacher of the princes of Egypt, reported that the constellation was the Nile Delta. He says that the Nile created a triangular outline of Egypt. The constellation, therefore, symbolises the land that the Nile shapes.

The constellation is missing on the globe of the Atlas Farnese, but it is mentioned in all star catalogues: by Eudoxos, Hipparchus, Eratosthenes and Ptolemy. So, it was probably only omitted because it was too delicate or too tiny for the stonemason to fit between the ram and the princess. Interestingly, according to the Almagest, the triangle (Τρίγωνον) consists of four stars, with the fourth star located on one of the connecting lines. In contrast to the (equilateral) southern triangle, this classic triangle is very small and pointed: the fourth star, therefore, does not have to mark the baseline but is located on the smallest of the three edges.

In modern times, the constellation is called ‘the triangle’ by Johann E. Bode, for example. Whether he is referring to the small musical instrument remains a mystery, as the shape of the constellation is not changed. Mathematically, it makes no difference whether this geometry is called ‘three angles’ or ‘three corners’, so that the words "tri-angel" and "drei-eck(en)" are equivalent.

==== Greco-Roman ====

===== Aratus =====
<blockquote>There is yet another constellation formed near by beneath Andromeda: [235] the Triangle is measured out on three sides, recognisably isosceles; the third side is shorter, but it is very easy to find, for it is well starred compared to the other two. Its stars are a little to the south of those of the Ram. (Kidd 1997)</blockquote>[[File:Tri Duerer.JPG|thumb|Triangulum in Dürer (1515) named "Deltoton".]]

===== Eratosthenes =====
<blockquote>'''Var. 1 (περὶ τοῦ Δελτωτοῦ):''' This is the constellation above the head of Aries, and it is said that it is to compensate for its lack of brilliance is an easily recognisable letter, taken from the initial of the name of Zeus, and placed there by Hermes who organised the entire arrangement of the constellations. In fact, some say that Egypt derives its triangular shape from the triangle of the constellation, and that the Nile shape it has given to the contours of the country, not only guarantees its security, but also makes it easier to sow and provide a favourable climate for harvesting the fruits of the earth.

The Triangle has three stars, one on each of its angles, all three shining brightly.

'''Var. 2 (Δελτωτοῦ):''' This is the constellation above the head of Aries; it is said that the latter is quite dull, and that an easily recognisable letter is located above him, taken from the initial of the name of Zeus, and placed by Hermes who organised arrangement of the constellations. Some say that Egypt derives its triangular shape from the triangle of the constellation, and that the Nile, by this very shape it has given to the contours of the country, not only guarantees its security, but also makes it easier to sow easier and provide a favourable climate for harvesting the fruits of the earth.

The Triangle has three bright stars, one on each angle. (Pamias and Zucker 2013)</blockquote>

===== Hipparchus =====

* not in Hipparchus's lists of rising and setting constellations

* but γ Tri is mentioned as simultaneous culmination with the setting of Aquila, The Eagle

===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
<blockquote>This constellation, which has three angles like the Greek letter Delta, is so named for that reason. Mercury is thought to have placed it above the head of Aries, so that the dimness of Aries might be marked by its brightness, wherever it should be, and that it should form the first letter in the name of Jove (in Greek, Dis). Some have said that it pictures the position of Egypt; others, that of Aethiopa and Egypt where the Nile marks their boundaries. Still others think that Sicily is pictured there. Others, say that three angles were put there because the gods divided the universe into three parts. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

===== Geminos =====

==== Almagest Τρίγωνον ====
{| class="wikitable"
!id
!Greek
(Heiberg 1898)
!English
(Toomer 1984)
!ident.
|-
!
!Τριγώνου ἀστερισμός
!Constellation of Triangulum
!
|-
|1
|ὁ ἐν τῇ κορουφῇ τοῦ Τριγώνου
|The star in the apex of the triangle
|α Tri
|-
|2
|τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς βάσεως 7 ὁ προηγούμενος.
|The most advanced of the 3 on the basic
|β Tri
|-
|3
|ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν.
|The middle one of these
|δ Tri
|-
|4
|ὁ ἑπόμενος τῶν τριῶν
|The rearmost of the three
|γ Tri
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|ἀστέρες δ', ὥν γ’ μεγέθους γ', δ’ ἄ.
|4 stars, 3 of the third magnitude, 1 of the fourth
|
|}

=== Arabic Culture ===

According to Laffitte (2025), there are two star names in the Arabic version of the Greek triangle. One is derived from the translation of the Greek term for "Triangle", the other is of unknown origin:<ref>Roland LAFFITTE (2025). Nommer les étoiles. 500 noms hérités des Arabes. Apport de l'uranographie arabe. Lyon: Orient-des-Mots </ref> <blockquote>The Arabs of the classical period borrowed from the Greeks the figure of ''Δελτωτόν / Deltaton'', the ‘Triangle’ introduced by Eudoxus, under the name ''al-Mutallat'', with the same meaning (Ar. ''al-Muṯallaṯ'', al-Ḥağğāğ & Isḥāq. Lat. ''Triangulum'', Gerard of Cremona.), whereas the ancient Arabs considered only the pair called ''al-Anīsān'', ‘the Two Companions,’ (Ar.: ''al-Anīsān'', Ibn Qutayba, al-Ṣūfī > ''“al-anîsaïn”'' (ind. case) Schjellerup; ''al-Šimālī min al-Anisayn'', al-Marrākuši > “the second of the ''Anisaïne''”, J. J. Sédillot) in this region of the celestial vault ''βγ Tri'', which became ''al-Ubaysān'', ‘the 2 Arms [of''al-Ḥamal'']’, in some manuscripts by al-Ṣūfī.

'''''Mothallah''''' ''(α Tri: 3.4) /'' '''رأس]''' '''المثلّث''']

Borrowed at the beginning of the 19th century and validated by the IAU, this is a truncation of ''Ra's al-Muṯallaṯ'', ‘the Summit of the Triangle’, in the Greco-Arabic sky and marked on the astrolabe in classical times; Ar. : al-Ḥağğāğ, al-Ṣūfī, then Uluġ Bēg and Al-Tīzīnī. Lat. “''Râs AlMothállath”'', Hyde, then ''“râs el-motsallats”'', Lach > ''Râs el-motsallats'', Bode, and ''Mothallah'', Piazzi, abs. in Francœur. ''Ras Al Mothallah'', Benhamouda. Var.: not. ''Mothallah'', ''Metallah'' and ''Elmuthalleh'', ''Rassalmotthallah'', Allen, not forgetting ''Caput Trianguli'' and ''Tête du Triangle'', which are calques of the Arabic name, then Nit. 01. After Allen, ''Mothallah'', Hoffleit, ''Simbad'', UAI. ''Caput Trianguli'', Rhoads.

'''''Mizan''''' ''[Trianguli] (β Tri: 3.4) /'' '''الميزان'''

Recently introduced, this is the Arabic ''al-Mīzān'', ‘the Balance’, of unknown origin.

Ar. ''al-Mīzān'', ‘the Balance’. Allen gives ''“Al Mīzān”'' c/ the Arabs, but does not indicate any source. After him, ''Al Mizan'', Rumrill p/ ''αβ Tri'', and ''Mizan'' p/ ''β Tri'', Rhoads.</blockquote>

=== Medieval and Early Modern Variants ===
[[File:Tri Plancius16112.JPG|thumb|Triangulum in Plancius (1612).]]

==== Instrument (Triquetrum) ====
Plancius on his 1612 globe preserves a name variant for Triangulum:

* Triquetrum.

This is a an ancient instrument for astrometrical measurements.

The brightest star he names '''Almutaleth''' which is a derivative of Arabic "Mothallah", The Triangle, adopted for α Trianguli because the phrase the descibes it in the Almagest ends with the word Τριγώνου "triangle".

==== Many Triangles ====
[[File:Triangulum+Fly+Aries Hevelius1690.jpg|thumb|Trianguli in Hevelius (1690).]]
Hevelius (1690) created a second triangle from fainter stars which was taken up by several authors.

Ian Ridpath writes:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition). [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/triangulumminus.html Triangulum Minus.]</ref> <blockquote>One of the least imaginative constellations, Triangulum Minus was invented in 1687 by Johannes Hevelius and first depicted on his star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, published posthumously in 1690. It was formed from three 5th-magnitude stars first catalogued by Hevelius himself. Triangulum Minus lay just south of the existing celestial triangle, Triangulum, which Hevelius renamed Triangulum Majus.</blockquote><blockquote>The little triangle achieved surprisingly wide acceptance among astronomers, including Johann Bode who showed it on his Uranographia in 1801. On some charts the pair were jointly named Triangula. Ultimately, though, the little triangle was deemed superfluous to requirements when the constellations came to be rationalized. Its stars were transferred to Triangulum proper where they are now known as 6, 10, and 12 Trianguli.</blockquote>.

=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===
<gallery>
File:Perseus et Triangulum - Mercator.jpeg|Perseus et Triangulum - Mercator 1551
File:Tri Plancius16112.JPG|Triangulum in Plancius (1612).
File:Johannes Hevelius - Triangulum Majus, Triangulum Minus & Musca (also shows Aries, Andromeda, Piscis Boreus and Perseus).jpg|Johannes Hevelius - Triangulum Majus, Triangulum Minus & Musca (also shows Aries, Andromeda, Piscis Boreus and Perseus)
File:Aries and Fleur-de-lis (Ignace Gaston Pardies-Plate 2).jpg|Aries and Fleur-de-lis (Ignace Gaston Pardies-Plate 2)
File:MITRAE PONTIFICALIS S PETRI.jpg
File:Ari-Tri etc Capture Tri-hi.JPG|Triangulum in Young (1807): A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts.
File:Lilium, Triangulum - Corbinian Thomas.jpg|Lilium, Triangulum - Corbinian Thomas
File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Gloria Frederici, Andromeda, and Triangula.jpg|Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Gloria Frederici, Andromeda, and Triangula
File:IauWGSN Triangulum SadeghFaghanpour2025.jpg|Triangulum with WGSN-names (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour and Susanne M Hoffmann for WGSN 2025).
</gallery>

== Mythology ==
Even Eratosthenes does not narrate any story or mythology.

== IAU WGSN naming ==

# [[File:IauWGSN Triangulum SadeghFaghanpour2025.jpg|thumb|Triangulum with WGSN-names (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour and Susanne M Hoffmann for WGSN 2025).]]The main star, α Trianguli (3.42 mag), got a name in the early days of WGSN review of star names in 2016: The name "[[Mothallah]]" derives the term for "triangle" (al-muthallath) in Arabic and is, therefore, documented in Kunitzsch and Smart (2006).
# Multiple Arabic names for the brightest star, β Tri (3.00 mag), were being reviewed by WGSN before "[[Alaybasan]]" was adopted.
# For the third star of the prominent triangle, γ Tri, the ancient Egyptian name "[[Apdu]]" was adopted.
# The original Ancient Greek term "[[Deltoton]]" was considered for one of the other unnamed stars among the 4 stars listed in the Almagest and adopted for Delta Tri, as WGSN likes to pun.
# "[[Triminus]]" - a shortened version of Hevelius's "Triangulum Minus" has also been proposed as a name for one of the three stars Iota/6 Tri, 10 Tri, and 12 Tri -- of which 6 Tri is the brightest (a quadruple dominated by a G giant).

== Weblinks ==

== References ==

* [[References]] (general)
* [[References (Babylonian)]]
* [[References (Greco-Roman)|References (ancient Greco-Roman)]]
* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (medieval)]]

[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]
[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]] [[Category:European]][[Category:Tri]]

Triangulum

2026-01-05T17:11:24Z

IanRidpath: /* IAU WGSN naming */

[[File:Triangulum IAU.svg|alt=star chart|thumb|Tri star chart (IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine, Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg).]]
[[File:Tri kugel.jpg|alt=drawing of the constellation |thumb|Constellation Trianugulum on the 10 cm silver globe from the Kugel collection (Paris), dating 1st century BCE.]]
[[File:Kugel Globe Tri.JPG|thumb|Earliest known depiction of Triangulum on the Kugel Globe (first century BCE), drawing by SMH 2025.<ref>Hoffmann (2025), Some Results on the Ancient Globes, Globe Studies – The Journal of the International Coronelli Society, 69, 4169.</ref> ]]
One of the [[:Category:88_IAU-Constellations|88 IAU constellations]]. In Greek antiquity, it was called either '''Trigonon''' (Τρίγωνον; triangle), or alternatively '''Deltoton''' (Δελτωτόν; the letter Delta: Δ). The alternative name incorporates the religious connection for the ancients, but the constellation is missing from the Farnese Globe and the Mainz Globe.

==Etymology and History==
=== Origin of Constellation ===
The triangle constellation is ancient Greek. It did not exist in Mesopotamia; the stars probably belonged to the Babylonian constellation of the Hired Man, mul lu2[[ḪUN.GA2|ḪUN.GA2]] ([[Aries]]). Although it was consistently present as a separate constellation in Greece, the authors disagree about its meaning. Aratos calls it ‘the sign’; the mathematical astronomers call it ‘triangle’. Accordingly, Eratosthenes notes that some interpret it as the initial letter of the word ‘Dios’, i.e., as the Greek capital letter Δ (Delta). Dios is the genitive of the name of Zeus. The astronomer reports that when Hermes arranged the constellations in the sky, he inserted ‘of Zeus’ as a possessive inscription - i.e. ‘constellations of Zeus’, the highest god.

Alternatively, Eratosthenes, the librarian of Alexandria and teacher of the princes of Egypt, reported that the constellation was the Nile Delta. He says that the Nile created a triangular outline of Egypt. The constellation, therefore, symbolises the land that the Nile shapes.

The constellation is missing on the globe of the Atlas Farnese, but it is mentioned in all star catalogues: by Eudoxos, Hipparchus, Eratosthenes and Ptolemy. So, it was probably only omitted because it was too delicate or too tiny for the stonemason to fit between the ram and the princess. Interestingly, according to the Almagest, the triangle (Τρίγωνον) consists of four stars, with the fourth star located on one of the connecting lines. In contrast to the (equilateral) southern triangle, this classic triangle is very small and pointed: the fourth star, therefore, does not have to mark the baseline but is located on the smallest of the three edges.

In modern times, the constellation is called ‘the triangle’ by Johann E. Bode, for example. Whether he is referring to the small musical instrument remains a mystery, as the shape of the constellation is not changed. Mathematically, it makes no difference whether this geometry is called ‘three angles’ or ‘three corners’, so that the words "tri-angel" and "drei-eck(en)" are equivalent.

==== Greco-Roman ====

===== Aratus =====
<blockquote>There is yet another constellation formed near by beneath Andromeda: [235] the Triangle is measured out on three sides, recognisably isosceles; the third side is shorter, but it is very easy to find, for it is well starred compared to the other two. Its stars are a little to the south of those of the Ram. (Kidd 1997)</blockquote>[[File:Tri Duerer.JPG|thumb|Triangulum in Dürer (1515) named "Deltoton".]]

===== Eratosthenes =====
<blockquote>'''Var. 1 (περὶ τοῦ Δελτωτοῦ):''' This is the constellation above the head of Aries, and it is said that it is to compensate for its lack of brilliance is an easily recognisable letter, taken from the initial of the name of Zeus, and placed there by Hermes who organised the entire arrangement of the constellations. In fact, some say that Egypt derives its triangular shape from the triangle of the constellation, and that the Nile shape it has given to the contours of the country, not only guarantees its security, but also makes it easier to sow and provide a favourable climate for harvesting the fruits of the earth.

The Triangle has three stars, one on each of its angles, all three shining brightly.

'''Var. 2 (Δελτωτοῦ):''' This is the constellation above the head of Aries; it is said that the latter is quite dull, and that an easily recognisable letter is located above him, taken from the initial of the name of Zeus, and placed by Hermes who organised arrangement of the constellations. Some say that Egypt derives its triangular shape from the triangle of the constellation, and that the Nile, by this very shape it has given to the contours of the country, not only guarantees its security, but also makes it easier to sow easier and provide a favourable climate for harvesting the fruits of the earth.

The Triangle has three bright stars, one on each angle. (Pamias and Zucker 2013)</blockquote>

===== Hipparchus =====

* not in Hipparchus's lists of rising and setting constellations

* but γ Tri is mentioned as simultaneous culmination with the setting of Aquila, The Eagle

===== Hyginus, Astronomica =====
<blockquote>This constellation, which has three angles like the Greek letter Delta, is so named for that reason. Mercury is thought to have placed it above the head of Aries, so that the dimness of Aries might be marked by its brightness, wherever it should be, and that it should form the first letter in the name of Jove (in Greek, Dis). Some have said that it pictures the position of Egypt; others, that of Aethiopa and Egypt where the Nile marks their boundaries. Still others think that Sicily is pictured there. Others, say that three angles were put there because the gods divided the universe into three parts. (Mary Ward 1960)</blockquote>

===== Geminos =====

==== Almagest Τρίγωνον ====
{| class="wikitable"
!id
!Greek
(Heiberg 1898)
!English
(Toomer 1984)
!ident.
|-
!
!Τριγώνου ἀστερισμός
!Constellation of Triangulum
!
|-
|1
|ὁ ἐν τῇ κορουφῇ τοῦ Τριγώνου
|The star in the apex of the triangle
|α Tri
|-
|2
|τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς βάσεως 7 ὁ προηγούμενος.
|The most advanced of the 3 on the basic
|β Tri
|-
|3
|ὁ μέσος αὐτῶν.
|The middle one of these
|δ Tri
|-
|4
|ὁ ἑπόμενος τῶν τριῶν
|The rearmost of the three
|γ Tri
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|ἀστέρες δ', ὥν γ’ μεγέθους γ', δ’ ἄ.
|4 stars, 3 of the third magnitude, 1 of the fourth
|
|}

=== Arabic Culture ===

According to Laffitte (2025), there are two star names in the Arabic version of the Greek triangle. One is derived from the translation of the Greek term for "Triangle", the other is of unknown origin:<ref>Roland LAFFITTE (2025). Nommer les étoiles. 500 noms hérités des Arabes. Apport de l'uranographie arabe. Lyon: Orient-des-Mots </ref> <blockquote>The Arabs of the classical period borrowed from the Greeks the figure of ''Δελτωτόν / Deltaton'', the ‘Triangle’ introduced by Eudoxus, under the name ''al-Mutallat'', with the same meaning (Ar. ''al-Muṯallaṯ'', al-Ḥağğāğ & Isḥāq. Lat. ''Triangulum'', Gerard of Cremona.), whereas the ancient Arabs considered only the pair called ''al-Anīsān'', ‘the Two Companions,’ (Ar.: ''al-Anīsān'', Ibn Qutayba, al-Ṣūfī > ''“al-anîsaïn”'' (ind. case) Schjellerup; ''al-Šimālī min al-Anisayn'', al-Marrākuši > “the second of the ''Anisaïne''”, J. J. Sédillot) in this region of the celestial vault ''βγ Tri'', which became ''al-Ubaysān'', ‘the 2 Arms [of''al-Ḥamal'']’, in some manuscripts by al-Ṣūfī.

'''''Mothallah''''' ''(α Tri: 3.4) /'' '''رأس]''' '''المثلّث''']

Borrowed at the beginning of the 19th century and validated by the IAU, this is a truncation of ''Ra's al-Muṯallaṯ'', ‘the Summit of the Triangle’, in the Greco-Arabic sky and marked on the astrolabe in classical times; Ar. : al-Ḥağğāğ, al-Ṣūfī, then Uluġ Bēg and Al-Tīzīnī. Lat. “''Râs AlMothállath”'', Hyde, then ''“râs el-motsallats”'', Lach > ''Râs el-motsallats'', Bode, and ''Mothallah'', Piazzi, abs. in Francœur. ''Ras Al Mothallah'', Benhamouda. Var.: not. ''Mothallah'', ''Metallah'' and ''Elmuthalleh'', ''Rassalmotthallah'', Allen, not forgetting ''Caput Trianguli'' and ''Tête du Triangle'', which are calques of the Arabic name, then Nit. 01. After Allen, ''Mothallah'', Hoffleit, ''Simbad'', UAI. ''Caput Trianguli'', Rhoads.

'''''Mizan''''' ''[Trianguli] (β Tri: 3.4) /'' '''الميزان'''

Recently introduced, this is the Arabic ''al-Mīzān'', ‘the Balance’, of unknown origin.

Ar. ''al-Mīzān'', ‘the Balance’. Allen gives ''“Al Mīzān”'' c/ the Arabs, but does not indicate any source. After him, ''Al Mizan'', Rumrill p/ ''αβ Tri'', and ''Mizan'' p/ ''β Tri'', Rhoads.</blockquote>

=== Medieval and Early Modern Variants ===
[[File:Tri Plancius16112.JPG|thumb|Triangulum in Plancius (1612).]]

==== Instrument (Triquetrum) ====
Plancius on his 1612 globe preserves a name variant for Triangulum:

* Triquetrum.

This is a an ancient instrument for astrometrical measurements.

The brightest star he names '''Almutaleth''' which is a derivative of Arabic "Mothallah", The Triangle, adopted for α Trianguli because the phrase the descibes it in the Almagest ends with the word Τριγώνου "triangle".

==== Many Triangles ====
[[File:Triangulum+Fly+Aries Hevelius1690.jpg|thumb|Trianguli in Hevelius (1690).]]
Hevelius (1690) created a second triangle from fainter stars which was taken up by several authors.

Ian Ridpath writes:<ref>Ian Ridpath, Star Tales (Online Edition). [http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/triangulumminus.html Triangulum Minus.]</ref> <blockquote>One of the least imaginative constellations, Triangulum Minus was invented in 1687 by Johannes Hevelius and first depicted on his star atlas, Firmamentum Sobiescianum, published posthumously in 1690. It was formed from three 5th-magnitude stars first catalogued by Hevelius himself. Triangulum Minus lay just south of the existing celestial triangle, Triangulum, which Hevelius renamed Triangulum Majus.</blockquote><blockquote>The little triangle achieved surprisingly wide acceptance among astronomers, including Johann Bode who showed it on his Uranographia in 1801. On some charts the pair were jointly named Triangula. Ultimately, though, the little triangle was deemed superfluous to requirements when the constellations came to be rationalized. Its stars were transferred to Triangulum proper where they are now known as 6, 10, and 12 Trianguli.</blockquote>.

=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===
<gallery>
File:Perseus et Triangulum - Mercator.jpeg|Perseus et Triangulum - Mercator 1551
File:Tri Plancius16112.JPG|Triangulum in Plancius (1612).
File:Johannes Hevelius - Triangulum Majus, Triangulum Minus & Musca (also shows Aries, Andromeda, Piscis Boreus and Perseus).jpg|Johannes Hevelius - Triangulum Majus, Triangulum Minus & Musca (also shows Aries, Andromeda, Piscis Boreus and Perseus)
File:Aries and Fleur-de-lis (Ignace Gaston Pardies-Plate 2).jpg|Aries and Fleur-de-lis (Ignace Gaston Pardies-Plate 2)
File:MITRAE PONTIFICALIS S PETRI.jpg
File:Ari-Tri etc Capture Tri-hi.JPG|Triangulum in Young (1807): A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts.
File:Lilium, Triangulum - Corbinian Thomas.jpg|Lilium, Triangulum - Corbinian Thomas
File:Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Gloria Frederici, Andromeda, and Triangula.jpg|Sidney Hall - Urania's Mirror - Gloria Frederici, Andromeda, and Triangula
File:IauWGSN Triangulum SadeghFaghanpour2025.jpg|Triangulum with WGSN-names (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour and Susanne M Hoffmann for WGSN 2025).
</gallery>

== Mythology ==
Even Eratosthenes does not narrate any story or mythology.

== IAU WGSN naming ==

# [[File:IauWGSN Triangulum SadeghFaghanpour2025.jpg|thumb|Triangulum with WGSN-names (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour and Susanne M Hoffmann for WGSN 2025).]]The main star, α Trianguli (3.42 mag), got a name in the early days of WGSN review of star names in 2016: The name "[[Mothallah]]" derives the term for "triangle" (al-muthallath) in Arabic and is, therefore, documented in Kunitzsch and Smart (2006).
# Multiple Arabic names for the brightest star, β Tri (3.00 mag), were being reviewed by WGSN before "[[Alaybasan]]" was adopted.
# For the third star of the prominent triangle, γ Tri, the ancient Egyptian name "[[Apdu]]" was adopted.
# The original Ancient Greek term "[[Deltoton]]" was considered for one of the other unnamed stars among the 4 stars listed in the Almagest and adopted for Delta Tri, as WGSN likes to pun.
# "[[Triminus]]" - a shortened version of Hevelius's "Triangulum Minus" has also been proposed as a name for one of the three stars iota/6 Tri, 10 Tri, and 12 Tri -- of which 6 Tri is the brightest (a quadruple dominated by a G giant).

== Weblinks ==

== References ==

* [[References]] (general)
* [[References (Babylonian)]]
* [[References (Greco-Roman)|References (ancient Greco-Roman)]]
* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (medieval)]]

[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]
[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]] [[Category:European]][[Category:Tri]]

Triminus

2026-01-05T16:25:03Z

IanRidpath: /* Reference */

[[File:Triangulum+Fly+Aries Hevelius1690.jpg|thumb|Aries and Triangulum in Hevelius (1690).]]
[[File:Triminus profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg.jpg|thumb|Triminus profile card (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
Triminus is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 10280 (6 Tri, HR 642) in constellation Tri.

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
[[File:Triminus stickfigure SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Triminus stickfigure (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
In Early Modern Europe, a huge variety emerged in the drawing styles of classical constellations, while simultaneously new constellations were created. The atlas edition by Hevelius shows the classical constellation of The Triangle ([[Triangulum]]) as a set of two triangles. They are labelled "Majus" and "Minus" where "Majus" refers to the classical asterism.

It was suggested to the IAU to use the lesser triangle to name one of the stars that formed it. The brightest one among them would be 6 Tri (ι Tri). The full name "Triangulum Minus" would be too long, consist of two words and would cause confusion with the IAU-constellation "Triangulum". Therefore, it was suggested to abbreviate the constellation name with the standardised three letter-system and merge the two terms to the resulting name "Triminus".

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was suggested to the IAU in 2023 and accepted by the IAU WGSN in 2025.

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==
* [[References|References (general)]]
* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (early modern)]]
* Ian Ridpath's website ([http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/triangulumminus.html Star Tales – Triangulum Minus] )

[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:European]]
[[Category:modern]]
[[Category:Tri]]

Custos

2026-01-02T10:45:25Z

IanRidpath:

[[File:Custos profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Custos profile card (CC BY M.Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
[[File:Custos stickfigure SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Custos stick figure (CC BY M.Sadegh Faghanpour for IAU WGSN).]]
The modern IAU-star name "Custos" commemorates the obsolete Early Modern constellation [[Custos Messium]], the Harvest Keeper.

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
[[File:Bode custom rengifer.jpg|thumb|[[Rangifer]] et Custos Messium (Bode 1801).]]
[[Custos Messium]], the Harvest Keeper, was a constellation invented in Early Modern Time by the French astronomer Joseph Jérôme de Lalande (1732–1807) who might have punned with the name of his compatriot Charles Messier. Some European astronomers copied and translated it, though. The constellation became obsolete in the depolitisation of the IAU-sky and WGSN only resembles the Keeper, Custos.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was suggested to the IAU WGSN in 2023. It was adopted by the IAU-CSN in December 2025 for the star BE Cam (HIP 17884) in [[Camelopardalis]].

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==
* [[References|References (general)]]
* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (early modern)]]
* Ian Ridpath's website ([http://ianridpath.com/startales Star Tales] )

[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
[[Category:Constellation]]
[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:European]]
[[Category:Latin]]
[[Category:Cam]]

Sarvvis

2025-12-15T16:03:21Z

IanRidpath: Copyedit text, added two links

[[File:Elk-telemark.jpg|thumb|Elk-telemark (CC BY Badzil)]]
Sarvvis, the reindeer or moose, is a Sami constellation, used by the Sami people of northern Scandinavia.

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
=== Origin of Constellation ===
where was it mentioned, what is the earliest source ...

==== Spelling Variants ====

* Sarva
* Sarvii
* Sarvi (horn/antler) - Finnish
* Hirvi (elk/moose) - Finnish

==== Identifications ====
*

=== Sources, Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===
Here we give a list of all sources where the name is attested.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Source
!Identification
|-
|
|
|-
|
|
|-
|
|The
|}

== Mythology ==
According to legend, Fávdná is one of the hunters who hunt for Sarvvis. Fávdná uses a bow and an arrow and the bow is called Fávdnadávi. It forms the handle in the Big Dipper and is always pointed towards Sarvvis.

Other hunters are the three Gállábártnit brothers. You find them in the belt of Orion. Their father is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Do you know which star that might be? The hunting scene starts early in the evening when the hunters appear in the sky one by one. Fávdná is ready with his bow and arrow and aims towards Sarvvis.

The other hunters try to help. Fávdná doesn’t dare to shoot because between him and Sarvvis stands Boahji, the nail of the sky. If someone hits it, the sky will fall down and all life on Earth will come to an end. After a night of intense hunting, the hunters have to realise that Sarvvis is a difficult prey. One by one the hunters have to give up, Sirius first and Fávdná last. Sarvvis can continue its grazing till the next night when the hunt starts over again.

== Weblinks ==

* [https://www.ntnu.no/blogger/fysikkforfakirer/2025/02/20/the-celestial-hunt-finding-the-sami-sky-culture/#:~:text=The%20sky%20myth%20described%20by,or%20additional%20skiers)%2C%20Cuoigah%C3%A6gjek. https://www.ntnu.no/blogger/fysikkforfakirer/2025/02/20/the-celestial-hunt-finding-the-sami-sky-culture/#:~:text=The%20sky%20myth%20described%20by,or%20additional%20skiers)%2C%20Cuoigah%C3%A6gjek.]
* [https://www.beneathnorthernlights.com/the-starry-sky-in-sapmi/#:~:text=The%20constellation%20D%C3%A1vgg%C3%A1t%20(Karlsvogna%2C%20Big,the%20northwest%20in%20the%20morning. https://www.beneathnorthernlights.com/the-starry-sky-in-sapmi/#:~:text=The%20constellation%20D%C3%A1vgg%C3%A1t%20(Karlsvogna%2C%20Big,the%20northwest%20in%20the%20morning.]

== References ==

* [[References]] (general)

[[Category:Eurasia]][[Category:European]] [[Category:Asterism]] [[Category:Constellation]]
[[Category:Sami]]
[[Category:Cas]][[Category:Aur]][[Category:Per]]

Pleione

2025-11-17T00:38:15Z

IanRidpath: /* Mythology */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Pleione}}
Pleione is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Greek. It is the name of HIP 17851 (28 Tau, HR 1180) in constellation Tau.

==Etymology and History==

These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione, and their seven daughters, the Pleiades.

==Mythology==
In Greek mythology, Pleione was the mother of the ‍seven sisters, the Pleiades. Their father was Atlas.

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Tau]] [[Category:Ancient Greek]]

Atlas

2025-11-17T00:33:58Z

IanRidpath: /* Mythology */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Atlas}}
Atlas is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Greek. It is the name of HIP 17847 (27 Tau, HR 1178) in constellation Tau.

==Etymology and History==

These names were individually applied in Renaissance times from a family of characters in Greek mythology: Atlas, Pleione and their seven daughters, the Pleiades.

==Mythology==
‍In ‍Greek ‍mythology, ‍Atlas ‍and ‍the ‍oceanid ‍Pleione were the parents of the ‍seven Pleiades ‍sisters.

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Tau]] [[Category:Ancient Greek]]

Al-Ḫibā’

2025-11-12T09:48:11Z

IanRidpath: /* Yemenite Tent (الخِباء الیمانی) */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:al-Ḫibā’(الخِباء)}}
[[File:Khaima2 uu bd1 nomadin astro b300dpi.png|thumb|a bedouin tent in Mauretania, CC BY SMH 2008]]
al-Ḫibā’ (الخِباء), al-Khiba, theTent is an Arabian name. Qutayba, Qazwīnī, al-Ṣūfī and Miṣrī refer to different tent constellations (Laffitte (2012, 2025)<ref name=":0">Roland Laffitte (2025), ''Nommer les étoile: 500 noms hérités des Arabes - Apport de l'uranographie arabe'', Orient des Mots</ref><ref>Roland Laffitte (2012), ''Le ciel des Arabes''</ref>).

==Concordance, Etymology, History==
[[File:Khaima night uu bd1 nomadin astro b300dpi.png|thumb|a bedouin tent in Mauretania at full moon, CC BY SMH 2008]]

=== Spelling & Name Variants ===

* sometimes the Romanisation ''al-Ḥibā’'' is used.

{| class="wikitable"
|الخِباء
|al-Ḫibā’
|the Tent
|Qutayba
|
|-
|الخِباء الشّامیَة
|al-Ḫibā’ [al-Šāmiyya]
|the [northern] Tent
|al-Ṣūfī
|10th c.
|-
|الخِباء الیمانی
|al-Ḫibā’ al-Yamānī
|the Yemenite [= Southern] Tent
|al-Ṣūfī
|10th c.
|-
|الخِباء
|al-Ḫibā’
|the [northern] Tent
|Qazwīnī
|13th c.
|-
|سَعْدُ الخِبَاء
|Saᶜd al-Ḫiba’
|the Lucky [star] of he Tent
|Miṣrī
|14th c.
|}

=== Identification(s) ===

# The constellation "The Tent" refers to the same constellation as "The Northern Tent"
# The "Yemenite Tent" is then the southern counterpart,
# The Lucky Tent is yet another constellation.

==== [Northern] Tent (الخِباء الشّامیَة) ====
Name Variants:

* The Tent
* The Northern Tent
* The Syrian Tent

[[File:ArabTent Laffitte2025.jpg|thumb|Arabian constellation of The (Northern) Tent (CC BY Laffitte 2025)]]
Kunitzsch (1959) and Laffitte (2012, 2025) identifies الخِباء الشّامیَة (The Northern Tent) with stars in [[Lynx]] and [[Auriga]].

Schjellerup had added some stars in [[Camelopardalis]], but Laffitte (2025)<ref name=":0" /> argues that they are too far north: <blockquote>Ibn Qutayba gives ''δ, ξ Aur''. Based on al-Ṣūfī's description, Schjellerup adds ''2 Lyn +α, β Cam''. But, as Ibn Qutayba points out that the figure begins under ''Awlād al-Ẓibā’'', this means that it includes ''α Lyn''. One can reasonably remove from Schjellerup’s list ''αβ Cam'', which are too far away, and add the brightest stars that connect ''2 Lyn'' to ''α Lyn''. </blockquote><blockquote>There is also confusion in Ibn Qutayba, who places this figure under the one that he places under Station XIV and which he calls ''al-Ḫibā’ al-Yamānī'', “the Yemeni” or “the Southern”. The one we are talking about, which is northern, should reasonably be called ''al-Ḥibā’ al-Šāmiyya'', “the Syrian,” ''i.e.'' “the Northern”. </blockquote>

==== Yemenite Tent (الخِباء الیمانی) ====
[[File:AlHibaY Laffitte2025 bothMaps.jpg|thumb|Arabian constellation of The Yemenite Tent (CC BY Laffitte 2025).]]
Name Variants:

* The Yemenite Tent
* The Southern Tent

The Yemenite Tent is mentioned by al-Qutayba and al-Sufi; the latter also calls it the "Southern Tent" as opposed to the Northern Tent in the Lynx area. It is located in [[Corvus]]. Laffitte (2025)<ref name=":0" /> identifies: ''β, γ, δ, ε Crv'' and argues: <blockquote>By Ibn Qutayba, this figure is located under Lunar Station XIV. The epithet ''al-Yamānī'', given by al-Ṣūfī, must be interstood in relation to another ''al-Ḫibā’'', located between ''Awlād al-Ẓibā’'' and ''al-ᶜAyyūq'', which is boreal, and which we have therefore named ''al-Šāmiyya'', “the Syrian” or “the Northern”. </blockquote>Laffitte (2025) also points out that the stars of Corvus form an Arabic Lunar Station and are also listed with other Arabic names:
{| class="wikitable"
!Native Name
!Romanisation
!Translation
!Author
|-
|
|''al-Maᶜlaf''
|the Manger
|Qutayba
|-
|
|''al-Aḥmal''
|the Lambs
|Ḥanīfa
|-
|
|''al-Ağmal''
|the Camels
|Ṣūfī
|-
|
|''al-Ğimāl''
|''idem''
|Fāris
|-
|
|''al-Buᶜūl''
|the Masters
|Mammātī
|}

==== Lucky [star] of the Tent (سَعْدُ الخِبَاء) ====
[[Al-Suʿūd|'''''al-Suʿūd''''']]''', “the Lucky [stars]”''' are an Arabian asterism in [[Aquarius]]. Several modern star names resemble this historical asterism (e.g. [[Sadalsuud]], [[Sadalmelik]], [[Sadalbari]]...). Laffitte (2025) lists two names among the lucky stars that include tents:
{| class="wikitable"
!Native Name
!Romanisation
!Translation
!Author
!Identification
|-
|
|''Saʿd al-Aḫbiyya''
|the Lucky [star] of the Burrows or the Tents
|Mālik
|Lunar Station XXV:

''γ, ζ, π, η Aqr''
|-
|
|''Saʿd al-Ḫiba’''
|the Lucky [star] of he Tent
|Miṣrī
|''γ, ζ, π, η Aqr''
|}

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==
* [[References|References (general)]]
* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (early modern)]]

[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:West Asian]]
[[Category:Arabic]]
[[Category:Lyn]][[Category:Cam]]

Mirzam

2025-10-11T08:55:46Z

IanRidpath: /* Etymology and History */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Mirzam}}
Mirzam is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 30324 (β CMa, HR 2294) in constellation CMa.

==Etymology and History==

Applied in recent times from its Arabic name al-mirzam. R. H. Allen said the name meant ‘the announcer’, while the Arabic star lore expert Danielle Adams translates it as ‘bringer-forth’. According to the Arabic astronomer al-Ṣūfī the Arabs applied the name mirzam to any star that preceded a bright star. Hence it was also applied to β CMi, which precedes Procyon, and γ Ori, which precedes Betelgeuse, but it is the attribution to Beta Canis Majoris that has stuck.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:CMa]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Acrux

2025-10-03T13:51:49Z

IanRidpath: /* Etymology and History */

[[File:Acrux profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Acrux profile card (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN)]]
Acrux is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Contemporary. It is the name of HIP 60718 (α Cru, HR 4730) in constellation Cru.

==Etymology and History==

The name "Acrux" for α Crucis is a modern creation.<ref>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.</ref> It is derived from the Bayer designation "Alpha Crucis" that combines a Greek letter and the Latin constellation name in genitive form (although the Greek designation was applied by Lacaille in 1756, not Bayer himself). The star name combines "A" from "alpha" and the Latin constellation name "Crux" in nominative.

Visible ''today'' only from latitudes south of the northern tropical circle, it has been visible in the Mediterranean in the past few millennia. Historically, due to precession, it was observed by ancient Hindi, Roman and Greek astronomers, and even in English Stonehenge three millennia before the erection of the giant stones.
[[File:Acrux stickfigure SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg|thumb|Acrux stick figure (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN)]]

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

The 13th brightest star in the night sky at magnitude 0.8, Acrux consists of two components of 1.3 and 1.8, either of which would be easily visible to the naked eye on its own. The binary nature was discovered in the 17th century and the light that reaches us now left the surface roughly at that time.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Cru]]

Chara

2025-06-29T04:30:32Z

IanRidpath: /* Etymology and History */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Chara}}
Chara is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). It is the name of HIP 61317 (β CVn, HR 4785) in constellation CVn.

==Etymology and History==

Kunitzsch says that the name Chara comes from the Greek word χαρά, "joy", but in Latin the word means "dear" or "beloved", so Hevelius (who wrote in Latin) could have had either meaning in mind. According to Hevelius Chara was the swifter of the two hunting dogs represented by Canes Venatici. The first usage of Chara as a name for Beta CVn that we can find is in Allen's Star Names of 1899.

Hevelius placed it on the eye of the southern dog, while Flamsteed and Bode showed it on the dog's snout.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:CVn]] [[Category:Ancient Greek]]

Chara

2025-06-28T15:49:21Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Chara}}
Chara is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). It is the name of HIP 61317 (β CVn, HR 4785) in constellation CVn.

==Etymology and History==

Kunitzsch says that the name Chara comes from the Greek word χαρά, "joy", but in Latin the word means "dear" or "beloved", so Hevelius (who wrote in Latin) could have had either meaning in mind. According to Hevelius Chara was the swifter of the two hunting dogs represented by Canes Venatici. The first usage of Chara as a name for Beta CVn that we can find is in Allen's Star Names of 1899.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:CVn]] [[Category:Ancient Greek]]

Zubeneschamali

2025-06-19T00:26:40Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zubeneschamali}}
Zubeneschamali is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 74785 (β Lib, HR 5685) in constellation Lib.

==Etymology and History==

Applied in Renaissance times from its sci-A name al-zubana alshamali, "the Northern Claw (of the Scorpion)".

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lib]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zubenelhakrabi

2025-06-19T00:26:13Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zubenelhakrabi}}
Zubenelhakrabi is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 76333 (γ Lib, HR 5787) in constellation Lib.

==Etymology and History==

Allen (1899) claims that this term was used for η Lib while “properly belonging to γ Scorpii”. He gives the name “Zubān alʿAkrab, the Scropion’s Claw”, with the spelling variants Zuban al Kravi, Zuben Acrabi, Zuben Hakrabi where the last one goes back to Bayer’s Uranometria (1603). Yet, Bayer’s γ Scorpii is now σ Lib (Brachium) and Bayer’s γ Lib was named “in media lance Boreali prima et superior”.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/09/05.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* Allen (1899), p. 277,369, and Bayer (1603) on Libra and on Scorpius

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lib]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zubenelgenubi

2025-06-19T00:25:32Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zubenelgenubi}}
Zubenelgenubi is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 72622 (α2 Lib, HR 5531) in constellation Lib.

==Etymology and History==

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 concepts 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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lib]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zosma

2025-06-19T00:23:59Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zosma}}
Zosma is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Greek. It is the name of HIP 54872 (δ Leo, HR 4357) in constellation Leo.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Leo]] [[Category:Ancient Greek]]

Zibal

2025-06-19T00:23:23Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zibal}}
Zibal is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 15197 (ζ Eri, HR 984) in constellation Eri.

==Etymology and History==

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).

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/09/12.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Eri]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zhang

2025-06-19T00:21:30Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zhang}}
Zhang is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Chinese. It is the name of HIP 48356 (υ1 Hya, HR 3903) in constellation Hya.

==Etymology and History==

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 consists of 6 stars according to sources back to the 3rd millennium BCE.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/06/30.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* Lunar Mansion

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Hya]] [[Category:Chinese]]

Zavijava

2025-06-19T00:19:57Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zavijava}}
Zavijava is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 57757 (β Vir, HR 4540) in constellation Vir.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Vir]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zaurak

2025-06-19T00:19:19Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zaurak}}
Zaurak is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 18543 (γ Eri, HR 1231) in constellation Eri.

==Etymology and History==

From the Arabic word zauraq, "boat", used in a description of several stars near Eridanus (evidently the stars of today's Phoenix). Arbitrarily applied as a star name to γ Eri in recent times.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Eri]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Zaniah

2025-06-19T00:18:45Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Zaniah}}
Zaniah is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 60129 (η Vir, HR 4689) in constellation Vir.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/09/12.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Vir]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Yildun

2025-06-19T00:17:34Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Yildun}}
Yildun is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 85822 (δ UMi, HR 6789) in constellation UMi.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:UMi]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Yed Prior

2025-06-19T00:17:01Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Yed Prior}}
Yed Prior is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 79593 (δ Oph, HR 6056) in constellation Oph.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/11/06.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Oph]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Yed Posterior

2025-06-19T00:16:32Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Yed Posterior}}
Yed Posterior is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 79882 (ε Oph, HR 6075) in constellation Oph.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/10/05.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Oph]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Xuange

2025-06-19T00:15:56Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Xuange}}
Xuange is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Chinese. It is the name of HIP 69732 (λ Boo, HR 5351) in constellation Boo.

==Etymology and History==

Single-star asterism: a halberd, the celestial lance or north lance.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/06/30.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* Rufus+Tien (1945) on the Suzhou Map, Sun and Kistemaker (1997) evaluating Han sources, Sun Shuwei (2022) on the Su Song Map

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Boo]] [[Category:Chinese]]

Xihe

2025-06-19T00:15:27Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Xihe}}
Xihe is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Chinese. It is the name of HIP 91852 (HD 173416) in constellation Lyr.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lyr]] [[Category:Chinese]]

Xihe

2025-06-19T00:15:08Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Xihe}}
Xihe is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Chinese. It is the name of HIP 91852 (HD 173416) in constellation Lyr.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lyr]] [[Category:Chinese]]

Xamidimura

2025-06-19T00:14:38Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Xamidimura}}
Xamidimura is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Khoekhoe. It is the name of HIP 82514 (μ1 Sco, HR 6247) in constellation Sco.

==Etymology and History==

Originally spelled as three word "xami di mura" means "eyes of the beast" in the Khoekhoe language (South Africa). The term designates two stars which is why it was suggested (Hahn 1881) to refer to μ Sco as this star appears as a visual pair of two dots of light. Yet, today's identification popularized by the SAAO differs.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/09/05.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* --

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Sco]] [[Category:Khoekhoe]]

Wurren

2025-06-19T00:14:05Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wurren}}
Wurren is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Aboriginal/Wardaman. It is the name of HIP 5348 (ζ Phe, HR 338) in constellation Phe.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/11/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW, pp. 200, 204.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Phe]] [[Category:Wardaman]]
[[Category:Australia and New Zealand]]

Wezen

2025-06-19T00:07:36Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wezen}}
Wezen is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 34444 (δ CMa, HR 2693) in constellation CMa.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:CMa]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Wazn

2025-06-19T00:07:07Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wazn}}
Wazn is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 27628 (β Col, HR 2040) in constellation Col.

==Etymology and History==

Applied in recent times from some ind-A name al-wazn, of unknown significance.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Col]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Wasat

2025-06-19T00:06:40Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Wasat}}
Wasat is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 35550 (δ Gem, HR 2777) in constellation Gem.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Gem]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Vindemiatrix

2025-06-19T00:05:49Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Vindemiatrix}}
Vindemiatrix is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 63608 (ε Vir, HR 4932) in constellation Vir.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Vir]] [[Category:Latin]]

Veritate

2025-06-19T00:05:19Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Veritate}}
Veritate is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 116076 (14 And, HR 8930) in constellation And.

==Etymology and History==

From the latin "Veritas", truth. The ablative form means "where there is truth".

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2015/12/15.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2015 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:And]] [[Category:Latin]]

Vega

2025-06-19T00:04:58Z

IanRidpath:

[[File:Vega 20250427 220112.mp4|thumb|Vega, sparkling in all colours: Vega is white by definition, the colours are caused by the Earth's atmosphere.]]
This is the name of the star α Lyrae in the constellation of [[Lyra]]. Kunitzsch and Smart (2006) note that it was applied in medieval times from an abbreviation of its original name ''alnasr al-waqi''<nowiki/>', "the Swooping Eagle (or Vulture)", alternatively used as an asterism name for α, ε, and ζ Lyr. Being used from the end of the 10th century CE, "Vega" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in Europe.

==Etymology and History==

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 AD.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==

The name was approved with this spelling by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
*[[References (Medieval and Early Modern)|References (early modern)]]
*Ian Ridpath's website ([http://ianridpath.com/startales Star Tales] )
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
[[Category:Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:European]]
[[Category:Arabic]]
[[Category:Lyr]]

Van Maanen’s Star

2025-06-19T00:04:01Z

IanRidpath:

Modern name for GJ 35 = HIP 3829, Third white dwarf identified, and first and nearest solitary white dwarf.

==Etymology and History==
[[File:Eric vanMaanen.png|alt=screenshot(s) of text|thumb|van Maanen's note on the discovery of "his" star (screenshot)]]
Appeared as “van Maanen’s Star” in a compendium of science abstracts in 1919 (for a paper by Cosserat),

* Whitaker (1922, an Almanac!),
* Seares (1924),
* Luyten (1950),
* van de Kamp (1971),
* Burnham (1978),
* Spite & Lahmek (1982),
* Fernandez (1983).
* “van Maanen’s Star” has own entry in Encyclopedia of Astronomy & Astrophysics (Murdin, 2001)
* Appeared as "van Maanen" in Allen (1963) Allen's Astrophysical Quantities. Name appears in ~10 NASA ADS abstracts
* Name is already in [https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=NAME+van+Maanen's+Star SIMBAD] .
* Wikipedia

==Mythology==

==IAU Star Name==

WGSN discussed the name in 2022 but decided (for the time being) not to name stars after people.

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==

[[Category:Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:European]]
[[Category:Modern]]
[[Category:Psc]]

Uruk

2025-06-19T00:02:58Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uruk}}
Uruk is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Akkadian. It is the name of HIP 96078 (HD 231701) in constellation Sge.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Sge]] [[Category:Akkadian]]

Uridim

2025-06-19T00:02:36Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uridim}}
{{distinguish|UR.IDIM}}
Uridim is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Sumerian ([[UR.IDIM]]). It is the name of HIP 71860 (α Lup, HR 5469) in constellation Lup.

==Etymology and History==

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).

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2024/09/12.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Lup]] [[Category:Sumerian]]

Unukalhai

2025-06-19T00:01:00Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Unukalhai}}
Unukalhai is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 77070 (α Ser, HR 5854) in constellation Ser.

==Etymology and History==

Applied in recent times from its sci-A name 'unuq al-hayya, "the Serpent's Neck".

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Ser]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Uklun

2025-06-19T00:00:32Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Uklun}}
Uklun is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Pitkern. It is the name of HIP 57291 (HD 102117) in constellation Cen.

==Etymology and History==

Uklun means us or we in the Pitkern language of the people of Pitcairn Islands.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Cen]] [[Category:Pitkern]]

Ukdah

2025-06-19T00:00:06Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Ukdah}}
Ukdah is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 47431 (ι Hya, HR 3845) in constellation Hya.

==Etymology and History==

Kazwini knew the stars tau1, tau2 Hya as عقدة ʽuqdah (or ʽuḳdah), Arabic "knot". Rhoads (1971) considers this asterism consisting of four stars: tau1, tau2, 33, and ι Hya.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2018/06/01.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* Rhoads (1971)

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Hya]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Udkadua

2025-06-18T23:59:18Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Udkadua}}
{{distinguish|UD.KA.DU8.A}}
Udkadua is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Sumerian ([[UD.KA.DU8.A]]). It is the name of HIP 116584 (λ And, HR 8961) in constellation And.

==Etymology and History==

The Sumerian term is a compound, literally meaning "the storm demon with the gaping mouth". This Babylonian constellation is at least 3000 years old; the star named after it is its heel. It was highly important, as it was used for time-measurement for at least a millennium (if not longer).

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2025/05/08.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* see ASE

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:And]] [[Category:Sumerian]]

Tyl

2025-06-18T23:58:37Z

IanRidpath:

A modern star name for Epsilon Draconis A = HR 7582. The star is V=3.91 mag, G7 giant at d=47 pc. Has companion B 3.6” away (V=6.8 mag).
[[File:Becvar Tyl.jpg|alt=screenshot of the atlas page|thumb|Star name "Tyl" in Bečvář's celestial atlas (1951)]]

==Etymology and History==
Name of unknown etymology from Antonín Bečvář’s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skalnate_Pleso_Atlas_of_the_Heavens ''Atlas Coeli Skalnaté Pleso''] (1951)<ref>[https://archive.org/details/becvar-atlas-1950 Atlas (1951)] & [https://archive.org/details/atlascoeliiikata0000anto Katalog (1960)], pp. 345-350.</ref> and later editions. Later, it appeared in Rhoads (1971), Hoffleit & Jaschek’s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Star_Catalogue ''Bright Star Catalogue''],<ref>[https://archive.org/details/brightstarcatalo0000dorr 4th edition (1982)], pp. xi-xii & 461-468 [Appendix II] & [https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=V/50 5th edition (1991)].</ref> Moore (1990), Bakich (1995), Kunitzsch & Smart (2006), etc.

The etymology is unknown but highly likely, the name refers to [[wikipedia:Josef_Kajetán_Tyl|Josef Kajetán Tyl]], a Czech writer (1808–58). He is best known for his authorship of the new Czech national anthem.

==IAU Star Name==
Name is already in SIMBAD: https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Tyl

Until March 2022, unable to find any other aliases for this particular star, and is only name for star in BSC. Yet, the IAU WGSN refrains from applying this name officially because it seems to be politically motivated.

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==

[[Category:Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Eurasia]]
[[Category:European]]
[[Category:Modern]]
[[Category:Dra]]

Tureis

2025-06-18T23:57:04Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tureis}}
Tureis is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 39757 (ρ Pup, HR 3185) in constellation Pup.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/09/12.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Pup]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Tupi

2025-06-18T23:56:33Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tupi}}
Tupi is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Tupi languages. It is the name of HIP 17096 (HD 23079) in constellation Ret.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Ret]] [[Category:Tupi languages]]

Tupa

2025-06-18T23:56:06Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tupã}}
Tupã is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Guarani. It is the name of HIP 60644 (HD 108147) in constellation Cru.

==Etymology and History==

Tupã is one of four principal gods of the Guarani Cosmogony in popular Paraguayan folklore that helped the supreme god Ñamandu to create the Universe.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2019/12/17.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2019 IAU100 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Cru]] [[Category:Guarani]]

Torcular

2025-06-18T23:55:40Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Torcular}}
Torcular is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP 8198 (ο Psc, HR 510) in constellation Psc.

==Etymology and History==

The traditional name Torcularis septentrionalis (northern wine press) was taken from the 1515 Almagest (Latin translation) and abbreviated.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/09/05.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* --

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Psc]] [[Category:Latin]]

Tonatiuh

2025-06-18T23:55:16Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Tonatiuh}}
Tonatiuh is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Aztec. It is the name of HIP 58952 (HR 4609) in constellation Cam.

==Etymology and History==

Tonatiuh was the Aztec god of the Sun.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 2015 NameExoWorlds

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Cam]] [[Category:Aztec]]

Toliman

2025-06-18T23:54:53Z

IanRidpath:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Toliman}}
Toliman is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 71681 (α Cen, HR 5460) in constellation Cen.

==Etymology and History==

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.

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2018/08/10.

==Weblinks==
* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

==Reference==
*[[References|References (general)]]
* 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.

[[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Star Name]][[Category:IAU-Star Name]] [[Category:Cen]] [[Category:Arabic]]

Talk:Toliman

2025-06-18T23:54:32Z

IanRidpath: Created page with "== Which component? == Needs additional explanation of which component of Alpha Cen this name refers to. ~~~~"

== Which component? ==
Needs additional explanation of which component of Alpha Cen this name refers to. [[User:IanRidpath|IanRidpath]] ([[User talk:IanRidpath|talk]]) 23:54, 18 June 2025 (UTC)