Algol
Algol 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 14576 (β Per, HR 936) in constellation Per.
Etymology and History
Applied in medieval times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name ras al-ghul "the Demon's Head" (for Ptolemy's Gorgon-head). "Algol" is one of the oldest Arabic star names applied in the West, from the end of the 10th century AD.
It is sometimes speculated that the name Algol arose because the Arabs knew of its variability, but in fact the name has its origins in Greek mythology and its variability is simply coincidence. al-Ṣūfī made no mention of any variability in his Book of the Fixed Stars published in AD 964. The sketch of the constellation in his book places Algol next to Medusa’s eye, not actually on it, and Bayer did the same; many later cartographers, including Flamsteed and Bode, positioned the star even higher on the forehead. The idea of Algol being a winking eye seems to be a modern myth.
In his book Star Names R. H. Allen wrongly identified Algol as the Chinese Jishi, referring to a pile of dead bodies in a mausoleum.
Mythology
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 (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.
- Ian Ridpath's website (Star Tales – Perseus )
