Chara

Chara is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). It is the name of HIP 61317 (β CVn, HR 4785) in constellation CVn.

Etymology and History

Kunitzsch says that the name Chara comes from the Greek word χαρά, "joy", but in Latin the word means "dear" or "beloved", so Hevelius (who wrote in Latin) could have had either meaning in mind. According to Hevelius Chara was the swifter of the two hunting dogs represented by Canes Venatici. The first usage of Chara as a name for Beta CVn that we can find is in Allen's Star Names of 1899.

Hevelius placed it on the eye of the southern dog, while Flamsteed and Bode showed it on the dog's snout.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

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.