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 HIP 106032 (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.