Antares

Antares is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Greek. It is the name of HIP 80763 (α Sco, HR 6134) in constellation Sco.

Etymology and History

"Antares" is a classical Greek name, found in the Almagest (Scorpius). From its ancient Greek name ἀντάρης, "like Ares", likening the red colour of this star to its planetary namesake (the Roman Mars), name occurs in the Almagest.

Possible Babylonian root

Horowitz ( ) suggested that the Greek name "anti ares" roots in a misunderstanding or pun from the Babylonian term ^mulAN.TA.GUB, as GUB can also be read RE6.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/06/30.

Weblinks

• Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

Reference

• References (general)
• References (early modern)
• Almagest, translated by Toomer (1984, 372), Horowitz ()