Alcor

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Alcor 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 HIP65477. (80 UMa, HR 5062) in constellation UMa.

Etymology and History

Ultimately from the ind-A name al-jaun, for ε UMa, which was transliterated and eventually corrupted in Latin to "Alcor." The name was wrongly transferred to 80 UMa in Renaissance times.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.

Weblinks

Reference

  • 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.