Alfirk

Alfirk 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 HIP106032. (β Cep, HR 8238) in constellation Cep.

Etymology and History

Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A names kaukaba al-firq (for α and β Cep ), and kawakib al-firq (for α, β , and η Cep). kaukaba and kawakib mean "two stars" and "stars" (more than two), respectively, but the original Arabic script for al-firq can be vocalized in various ways with various meanings. If the vocalization al-firq is accepted, it means "the Flock," and may refer to a flock of sheep here.

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 (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.