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 HIP 112158 (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.