Matar

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Matar 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 HIP112158 (η Peg, HR 8650) in constellation Peg.

Etymology and History

Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of the ind-A name sa'd matar for η and o Peg. Its meaning is unknown. matar has been translated as "rain," and as a common noun in Arabic, al-matar does mean "the rain." However, lack of the definitive article al- for the star points to a use of the word in a sense different from the common noun.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

Weblinks

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.