Rasalas

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Rasalas 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 HIP48455 (μ Leo, HR 3905) in constellation Leo.

Etymology and History

Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name ra's alasad (al-shamali), "(the Northern [Part] of) the Lion's Head." As originally applied, μ Leo was "Rasalasad Borealis" abbreviated in the first Western astronomical source as "Rasalas. Bor.," for lack of space in the line), and ε Leo was "Rasalasad Australis" (after the sci-A).

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/09/12.

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.