Gudja

Mertens' Water Monitor, Water Goanna (CC BY Jarek Tuszyński)

Gudja is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Aboriginal/ Wardaman. It is the name of HIP 77450 (κ Ser, HR 5879) in constellation Ser.

Etymology and History

Gudja is the Wardaman name of κ Ser, from the Northern Territory, Australia. Gudja is a Water Goanna, related to birth and rebirth. It is part of the bright trio of stars in Serpens Caput, which also include Munin the Rock Cod (γ Ser) and the Mungamungga birthing place (β Ser), likened to a little hospital. Gudja is involved with the birthing process, which includes sacred ritual practices. The Spiritual Women at the birthing and blessing site in Serpens Caput are connected to the sacred areas of Crux and enacted at Munin Rock and Yinggalarri.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2018/08/10.

Gudja is a red giant roughly 3x the mass of the Sun that has already left the main-sequence and blew up to a size of 71 solar radii. At its position only 18° north of the celestial equator with an apparent magnitude of 4.09, it is visible almost everywhere on Earth. It's rushing towards us at a speed 1000x of cars on highways.

Weblinks

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

Reference

• References (general)
• Cairns, H. and Harney, B.Y. (2003) Dark Sparklers - Yidumduma's Aboriginal Astronomy. H.C. Cairns, Merimbula, NSW. pp. 107-113.