Acrab

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Acrab 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 HIP78820. (β1 Sco, HR 5984) in constellation Sco.

Etymology and History

Arabic name al-'Aqrab for the constellation Scorpius ("the scorpion") (e.g. Al Sufi). Application of the transliteration "Acrab" specifically to the pair Beta1 and Beta2 Sco was made by Piazzi (1814) in the Palermo Catalog, and its use spread through the 19th century.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

Weblinks

Reference

  • References (general)
  • Kunitzsch, P. (1959) Arabische Sternnamen in Europa. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. No. 3; 88; 108