Vindemiatrix

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Vindemiatrix is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Latin. It is the name of HIP63608 (ε Vir, HR 4932) in constellation Vir.

Etymology and History

The formation of this name begins with the classical Greek name for this star: Protrygeter ("the Grape Gatherer") as it is given in the Almagest: ὁ βόρειος αὐτῶv καὶ καλούμενος Προτρυγητήρ. The Romans translated this name as vindemiator and other similiar masculine forms. Similarly, after a somewhat erroneous translation of the Greek name by the Arabs, the Medieval Latin translation in the Almagest was precedens vindemiatorem, "the One preceding the Grape Gatherer", modified in some editions of the Alphonsine Tables into precedens vindemitorem. The exact origin of the current, feminine "Vindemiatrix" from any of these forms is uncertain, but it first appeared in Renaissance times.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

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

Weblinks

Reference

  • References (general)
  • Almagest (Heiberg edition, II 102). 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.