Markeb

Markeb 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 HIP 45941 (κ Vel, HR 3734) in constellation Vel.

Etymology and History

Evidently from the Arabic word markab, "a ship or any vehicle", presumably standing for the Greek constellation name Argo. However, sci-A sources do not mention markab for Argo, only al-safina ("the Ship"), hence the ultimate origin of the name remains a mystery. "Markeb" was applied as a star name to ρ Pup in medieval times, to κ Pup in Renaissance rimes, and finally to κ Vel in recent times when Argo was divided into its three modern constellations.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/09/05.

Weblinks

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

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.