Revati

In temples, Revati is depicted as a container for 31 stars.

Revati's shape in temples matches a characteristic star pattern north of its determinative star. Here mapped to Stellarium (SMH for WGSN 2025).

Revati 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 5737 (ζ Psc, HR 361) in constellation Psc.

Etymology and History

Revatī is a Hindu mother goddess, in Sanskrit written रेवती. It is also the name of the 27th nakshatra and specifically the star ζ Psc. The Sun passing this star designates the beginning of a new (solar) year.

Identification and Main Star

Revati's shape in temple illustrations shows sa jar with 29 stars inside, one above and one below. It matches a characteristic oval star pattern north of its determinative star (ζ Psc) in the Pisces/ Andromeda-area. The star above the jar would then mark the position of the Andromeda-Galaxy.

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)