Cor Caroli

Cor Caroli 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 HIP 63125 (α² CVn, HR 4915) in constellation CVn.

Etymology and History

The name first appeared in 1673 on the northern half of a pair of celestial hemispheres that accompanied a book called Astroscopium by the English cartographer Francis Lamb. He labelled the star Cor Caroli Regis Martyris, a reference to the fact that King Charles I was beheaded, or ‘martyred’, as Lamb loyally put it (Charles had declared himself ‘martyr of the people’ at his execution).

IAU Working Group on Star Names

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

Weblinks

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

Reference

• References (general)
• Lamb, Francis (1673). Astroscopium, or, Two hemispheres containing all the northern and southern constellations projected upon the poles of the world : which (by the help of a movable horizon) are rendred serviceable in any latitude : the uses of which hemispheres are illustrated by variety of examples.