This is a list of traditional Arabic names for stars . In Western astronomy , most of the accepted star names are Arabic, a few are Greek and some are of unknown origin. Typically only bright stars have names.[1]
History of Arabic star names [ edit ]
Very old star names originated among people who lived in the Arabian Peninsula more than a thousand years ago, before the rise of Islam . However, many Arabic language star names sprang up later in history, as translations of ancient Greek language descriptions.
The astronomer Claudius Ptolemy in his Almagest (2nd century) tabulated the celestial position and brightness (visual magnitude) of 1,025 stars. Ptolemy's book was translated into Arabic in the 8th and 9th centuries and became famous in Europe as a 12th-century Latin translation. Many of the Arabic-language star descriptions in the Almagest came to be widely used as names for stars.
Ptolemy used a strategy of "figure reference" to identify stars according to their position within a familiar constellation or asterism (e.g., "in the right shoulder of The Hunter"). Muslim astronomers adopted some of these as proper names for stars, and added names from traditional Arabic star lore, which they recorded in various Zij treatises. The most notable of these is the Book of Fixed Stars written by the Muslim astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (known as Azophi in the West), who thoroughly illustrated all the stars known to him along with their observations, descriptions, positions, magnitudes, brightness, and color.
In Europe, during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, many ancient star names were copied or translated incorrectly by various writers, some of whom did not know the Arabic language very well. As a result, the history of a star's name can be complicated.[2]
Please note the Arabic transliteration with spelling below is the nearest and proper pronunciation in accordance with the Arabic IPA system. (rev. 30 October 2016)
[Furthermore, to aide due to the proper Arabic transliteration and pronunciation, both ' and ʿ is pronounced closest to a pitch or "uh" from the back of the throat.]
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration )
Meaning
Arabic name
Acamar
Ākhir un-Nahr
End of the river
آخر النهر
Achernar
Ākhir un-Nahr
End of the river
آخر النهر
Acrab
al-ʿAqrab
the Scorpion
عقرب
Açubens
az-Zubānā
the Claw
الزبانى
Adhafera
aḍ-Ḍafīrah
the Braid or Curl (of the lion 's mane)
الضفيرة
Adhara
al-ʿAdhārā
the Virgins
العذارى
Adhil
adh-Dhayl
the Tail
الذيل
Adib
adh-Dhi'b
The wolf
الذئب
Ain
ʿAyn
the Eye (of the bull )
عين
Albali
al-Bāliʿ
the Swallower
البالع
Alchibah
al-Khibā'
the Tent
الخباء
Alcor
al-Khawwār
the Faint One
الخوّار
Aldebaran
ad-Dabarān
the Follower (of the Pleiades )
الدبران
Alderamin
adh-Dhirāʿu l-Yamīn
the Right Arm (of Cepheus )
الذراع اليمين
Alfirk
al-Firqah
the Flock of sheep
الفرقة
Algebar
(Rijl) ul-Jabbār
(Foot of) the Giant
رجل الجبار
Algedi
al-Jady
the Goat
الجدي
Algenib
al-Janb
the Flank (of Pegasus )
الجنب
Algieba
al-Jab'hah
the Forehead (of the Lion )
الجبهة
Algol
(Ra'as) al-Ghūl
(Head of) the Ghoul
رأس الغول
Algorab
al-Ghurāb
the Crow
الغراب
Alhena
al-Hanʿah
the Brand (on the neck of the camel)
الهنعة
Alioth
Al-Jawn
The black horse "John"
الجون
Alkaid
al-Qā'id (banāt naʿash)
the Leader (of the mourning maidens)
القائد بنات نعش
Alkes
al-Ka's
the Cup
الكأس
Almak
al-ʿAnāq al-Arḍ
the Caracal
عناق الأرض
Almeisan
al-Maysān
the Shining one
الميسان
Alnair
an-Nayyir
the Bright one
النّيّر
Alnasl
an-Naşl
the Blade
النصل
Alnilam
an-Niżm
the String of Pearls
النّظم
Alnitak
an-Niṭāq
the Girdle (Orion's Belt )
النطاق
Alphard
al-Fard
the Solitary one
الفرد
Alphecca
(Nayyir) al-Fakkah
(the Bright one of) the Broken (Ring)
نير الفكّة
Alpheratz
(Surrat) al-Faras
(Navel of) the Mare
سُرَّة الفرس
Alrescha
ar-Rishā'
the Well-Rope
الرشاء
Alsafi
ath-Athāfiyy
the Tripods
الأثافيّ
Alsuhail
Suhayl
Glorious
سهيل
Altair
(an-Nisr) uṭ-Ṭā’ir
the Flying (Eagle )
النّسر الطّائر
Altais
at-Tays
the Goat
التيس
Alterf
aṭ-Ṭarf
the View (of the Lion )
الطرف
Aludra
al-ʿUdhrah
Virginity
العذرة
Alula Australis , Alula Borealis
(al-Qafzat) ul-Ūla'
the First (Leap)
القفزة الأولى
Alya
al-Alyah
the fatty Tail of a sheep
الألية
Angetenar
ʿArjat un-Nahr
Curve of the River
عرجة النهر
Ankaa
al-ʿAnqā'
Phoenix
العنقاء
Arkab
al-ʿArqūb
the Hamstring
العرقوب
Arneb
al-Arnab
the Hare
الأرنب
Arrakis
ar-Rāqiṣ
the Dancer
الراقص
Atik
al-ʿĀtiq ath-Thurayyā
the Shoulder (of Perseus)
عاتق الثّريّا
Auva
al-ʿAwwā'
the Barking (Dog)
العوّاء
Azha
(Persian : Ôshyôneh ) Āshiyānah
(Ostrich) Nest
اشیانه
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Baham
Sa'ad ul-Biham
Luck of the Young Beasts
سعد البهام
Baten Kaitos
Baṭni Qayṭus
Belly of Cetus
بطن قيطس
Beid
Bayḍ
Eggs
بيض
Benetnash
Banāt un-Naʿash
Daughters of the bier
بنات النعش
Betelgeuse
Ibṭ ul-Jawzā'
Armpit of the Central One
إبط الجوزاء
Botein
al-Buṭayn
the Belly (of the ram )
بطين
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Caph
al-Kaff ul-Khaḍib
the Palm (reaching from the Pleiades)
الكـــف الخضيب
Celbalrai
Kalb ur-Rāʿī
the Shepherd's Dog
كلب الراعي
Chort
al-Kharat
the Rib
الخرت
Cursa
Kursiyy al-Jauzah
the Chair or Footstool (of Orion)
الكرسيّ
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Dabih
Saʿad udh-Dhābiḥ
the lucky star of the Slaughterer
سّعد الذّابح
Deneb
Dhanab ud-Dajājah
Tail of the hen
ذنب الدجاجة
Deneb Algedi
Dhanab ul-Jady
Tail of the goat
ذنب الجدي
Deneb Dulfim
Dhanab ud-Dulfīn
Tail of the Dolphin
ذنب الدّلفين
Deneb Kaitos
Dhanab ul-Qaiṭos (ul-Janūbīyy)
(Southern) Tail of Cetus
ذنب القيتوس الجنوبي
Denebola
Dhanab ul-Asad
Tail of the lion
ذنب الاسد
Diphda
aḍ-Ḍifdaʿ ath-Thānī
the (second) Frog
الضّفدع الثاني
Dschubba
al-Jab'hah
the Forehead (of the scorpion )
الجبهة
Dubhe
Kāhil ud-Dubb
(the back of) the Bear
كاهل الدّب
Dziban
adh-Dhi'ban
the Two Wolves or Jackals
الذئبان
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Edasich
adh-Dhikh
the Hyena
الذّيخ
El Nath
an-Naṭḥ
the butting (of the bull 's horns)
النطح
Eltanin
at-Tinnin
the Great Serpent
التنين
Enif
al-Anf
the Nose (of Pegasus )
الأنف
Errai
ar-Rāʿī
the Shepherd
الراعي
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Fomalhaut
Fum al-Ḥūt
Mouth of the Whale
فم الحوت
Furud
al-Furud
the bright Single ones (but see that article)
الفرد
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Gienah
al-Janāḥ
the Wing
الجناح
Gomeisa
al-Ghumaişā'
the Bleary-eyed one
الغميصاء
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Hadar
Ḥaḍār
Settlement
حضار
Hamal
Rā's al-Ḥamal
(head of) the Ram
رأس الحمل
Heka
al-Haqʿah
the White Spot
الهقعة
Homam
Saʿad al-Humām
the Lucky star of the High-minded
سعد الهمام
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Izar
Al-Izar
The girdle, or, The loin-cloth
الإزار
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Jabbah
al-Jab'hah
the Forehead (of the scorpion )
الجبهة
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Kabdhilinan
Kaʿab Dhiy l-ʿInān
the Shoulder of the Rein-holder
كعب ذي العنان
Kaffaljidhma
al-Kaff al-Jadhmā'
the Cut-short Hand
الكف الجذماء
Kaus Australis , Kaus Media , Kaus Borealis
al-Qaws
the Bow
القوس
Keid
al-Qaiḍ
the (broken egg) Shells
القيض
Kitalpha
Qiṭʿat al-Faras
Part of the Horse
قطعة الفرس
Kochab
al-Kawkab
the Star
كوكب
Kurhah
al-Qurḥah
the Blaze on a horse's brow
القرحة
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Lesath
al-Lasʿah
The sting
اللسعة
Luh-Denebola / Denebola
Dhanab al-Asad/al-Layth
the lion's tail
ذنب الاسد/الليث
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Maasym
al-Miʿasam uth-Thurayyā
the Wrist (of Hercules )
معصم الثّريّا
Maaz
al-Māʿaz
the he-Goat
المعز
Mankib
Mankib (ul-Faras)
the Shoulder (of the Horse )
منكب الفرس
Marfik
al-Mirfaq
the Elbow
المرفق
Markab
Markab (ul-Faras)
the Saddle (of the Horse )
مركب الفرس
Matar
al-Saʿad ul-Maṭar
the lucky star of Rain
سعد مطر
Mebsuta
adh-Dhirāʿu l-Mabsūṭah
the Outstretched (Paw)
الذّراع المبسوطه
Megrez
al-Maghriz
the Base of the bear's tail
مغرز
Meissa
al-Maysān
the Shining one
الميسان
Mekbuda
adh-Dhirāʿu l-Maqbūḍah
the Folded (Arm)
الذّراع المقبوضة
Menkalinan
Mankib Dhiyi l-ʿInān
Shoulder of the Rein-holder
منكب ذي العنان
Menkar
al-Minkhar
the Nostril
المنخر
Menkent
Mankib ul-Qanṭūris
the Shoulder of the Centaur
منكب قنطورس
Menkib
Al-Mankib uth-Thurayyā
"The shoulder" of the Pleiades
منكب الثّريّا
Merak
al-Marāq
the loins (of the bear )
المراق
Mintaka
al-Minṭaqah
the Belt (of Orion)
المنطقة
Mirak
al-Marāq
the Loin-cloth
المراق
Mirfak
al-Mirfaq uth-Thurayyā
the Elbow
مرفق الثّريّا
Mizar
al-Mi'zar
the Apron
المئزر
Mothallah
Ra'as ul-Muthallath
(Head of) the Triangle
الرعس المثلث
Muphrid
Mufrid ur-Rāmiḥ
the Solitary one of the Lancer
المفرد الرامح
Murzim
al-Murzim
the Herald
المرزم
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Nashira
Saʿad Nāshirah
Lucky star of Nashirah
سعد ناشرة
Nekkar
al-Baqqār
the Cattleman
البقار
Nihal
an-Nihāl
(camels) Quenching their thirst
النهال
Nusakan
an-Nasaqān
The two arrays
النسقان
Nushaba / Alnasl
Zujji n-Nashshāba [Zujji n-Nashāba?] / an-Naşl
the Arrowhead
زُجِّ النشابة / النصل
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Okda
al-ʿUqdah
the Knot
العقدة
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Phact
(al-)Fākhitah
the Dove
فاخثة
Phad
(al-)Fakhidh
the Thigh
فخذ
Pherkad
(al-)Farqad
the Calf
فرقد
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Rasalased
Ra'as ul-Assad
Head of the lion
رأس الأسد
Rasalgethi
Ra'as ul-Jathī
Head of the Kneeler
رأس الجاثي
Rasalhague
Ra'as ul-Ḥawwā'
Head of the Snake-man
رأس الحوّاء
Rastaban
Ra'as uth-Thuʿabān
Head of the Snake
رأس الثعبان
Rigel
Rijl ul-Jabbār
Foot of the Giant
رجل الجبّار
Rigilkent
Rijl ul-Qanṭūris
Foot of the Centaur
رجل القنطورس
Risha
ar-Rishā'
the Well-Rope
الرشاء
Rukbah
ar-Rukbah
the Knee
الركبة
Rukbat
Rukbat ur-Rāmī
Knee of the archer
ركبة الرامي
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Sabik
as-Sābiq
the Preceding
السابق
Sadachbia
Saʿad ul-Akhbiyyah
Lucky star of the Tents
سعد الاخبية
Sadalbari
Saʿad ul-Bāriʿ
Lucky star of the Splendid one
سعد البارع
Sadalmelik
Saʿad ul-Malik
Lucky star of the King
سعد الملك
Sadalsuud
Saʿad us-Suʿūd
Luck of Lucks
سعد السعود
Sadr
aṣ-Ṣadr
the Breast (of the hen )
الصدر
Saiph
as-Sayf
the Sword (of Orion)
السيف
Scheat
as-Sāʿid
the Shoulder
الساعد
Shaula
ash-Shawlāh
the Raised (tail of the scorpion)
الشولة
Shedir
as-Ṣadr
the Breast
الصدر
Sheliak
ash-Shiliyāq
Lyra
الشلياق
Sheratan
ash-Sharāţān
the Two Signs
الشرطان
Sirrah
Surratu l-Faras
Navel (of the Mare)
سُرَّة الفرس
Skat
as-Sāq (or Shi'at)
the Leg (or the Wish)
الساق / شئت
Sulafat
as-Sulḥafāh
the Tortoise
السلحفاة
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Unukalhai
ʿUnuq ul-Ḥayyah
Neck of the Snake
عنق الحية
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Vega
an-Nisr ul-Wāqiʿ
the Falling Eagle
النسر الواقع
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Wasat
Wasț us-Samā'
"Middle" of the sky
وسط السماء
Wezen
al-Wazn
the Weight
الوزن
Wezn
al-Wazn
the Weight
الوزن
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Yed Posterior
Mu'akhkhir Yad ul-Ḥawwā'
(Back of the Snake Man's) Hand
مؤخّر يد الحوّاء
Yed Prior
Muqaddim Yad ul-Ḥawwā'
(Palm of the Snake Man's) Hand
مقدّم يد الحوّاء
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Zaurac
az-Zawraq
the Boat
الزورق
Zavijava
Zāwiyat ul-ʿAwwā'
the Angle of the Barking Dog
زاوية العواء
Zawiah
az-Zāwiyah
The angle
الزاوية
Zubenelgenubi
az-Zubān ul-Janūbiy
Southern Claw (of the scorpion )
الزبان الجنوبي
Zubeneshamali
az-Zubān ush-Shamāliy
Northern Claw (of the scorpion )
الزبان الشمالي
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ "Stargazing Network" . Stargazing.net. Retrieved 2011-10-05 .
^ "Star Names: Where Do They Come From? And Can You Buy One?" , RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996, (archived 2007)
^ Henbest, N.; Couper, H. (1994). The guide to the galaxy . p. 31. ISBN 0-521-45882-X .
^ Kepple, G. R.; Sanner, G. W. (1998). The Night Sky Observer's Guide . Vol. 1. Willmann-Bell . p. 18. ISBN 0-943396-58-1 .
External links [ edit ]
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