Ashlesha

The 9th Nakshatra, Ashlesha, as drawn in historical sources (WGSN 2025).

The 9th Nakshatra, Ashlesha, consists of five stars and is identified with the head of Hydra (WGSN 2025).

Ashlesha is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Indian. It is the name of HIP 43109 (ε Hya, HR 3482) in constellation Hya.

Etymology and History

Tibet nakshatra 07

Āśleṣā (आश्लेषा) is the Sanskrit name for an asterism in Hydra, the head of the Watersnake (δ, ε , η, ρ, and σ Hydrae). It is considered the ninth of the traditional Nakṣatras (lunar stations) in the Vedic culture that predates Hinduism but was taken over by it.

Naga ashlesha bali pooja

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2018/06/01.

Weblinks

• Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

Reference

• References (general)
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