Bharani

Bharani asterism

Bharani mapped to the stars, animated GIF (SMH 2025)

Bharani is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Indian. It is the name of HIP 13209 (41 Ari, HR 838) in constellation Ari.

Etymology and History

The Indian term (Sanscrit: भरणी), The Bearer, designates the 2nd of the 27 nakshatras consisting of the three stars 35, 39 and 41 Ari, among which 41 Ari is the brightest. The modern star name was given to the brightest star of the historical constellation.

Identification

Shylaja and Pai (2019) suggest the group ε Ari and 41 Ari based on coordinates given on historical astrolabes.

Yet, this identification is unlikely as the historical depiction shows three stars. The standard identification 35, 39 and 41 Ari is a group of three stars and rather recognizable; it was even made an asterism (the French Lily, Lilium, or the Apis, the Bee) in early modern European maps.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2017/06/30.

Weblinks

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

Reference

• References (general)
• Saha & Lahiri (1955)