List of Arabic star names

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

Further information: History of the constellations, Medieval Islamic astronomy and Book of Fixed Stars

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]

A

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Acamar Akhir an-Nahr End of the river آخر النهر
Achernar Akhir an-Nahr End of the river آخر النهر
Acrab Al-'Aqrab The scorpionعقرب
Acubens Az-Zubana The clawالزبانى
Adhafera Ad-Dafirah The curl "Plexus"الضفيرة
Adhara Al-'Adhara The maidens "Virgins"العذارى
Adhil Al-Dhayl The tailالذيل
Adib Al-dhi'b The wolfالذئب
Ain 'Ain the "eye" of the Bull "Eye"عين
Albali Al-Bali' The swallowerالبالع
Alchibah Al-Khiba' The tentالخباء
Aldebaran Al-Dabaran "The follower" of the Pleiadesالدبران
Alderamin Adh-Dhira' al-Yamin The right arm الذراع الأيمن
Alfirk Al-Firq The flock "Difference"الفرق
Algebar Al-Jabbar The giantالجبّار
Algedi Al-Jady The goat "Capricorn"الجدي
Algenib Al-Janb The flank "Side"الجنب
Algieba Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the lion "Front"الجبهة
Algol Al-Ghul The ghoul رأس الغول
Algorab Al-Ghurab The ravenالغراب
Alhena Al-Han'ah The mark of the brandالهنعة
Alioth Al-Jawn The black horse "John"الجون
Alkaid Al-Qa'id "The leader" of the mourning maidens "Commander"القائد
Alkes Al-Ka's The cupالكأس
Almak 'Anaq al-Ard The caracal "Hug the Ground"عناق الأرض
Almeisan Al-Maisan The shining one "Libration" الميسان
Alnair An-Nayyir The bright one "Yoke"النّيّر
Alnasl Al-nasl The arrowhead "Blade"النصل
Alnilam An-Nidham The string of pearls "Systems"النّظم
Alnitak An-Nitaq The belt "Scale"النطاق
Alphard Al-Fard The solitary one "Individual"الفرد
Alphecca Al-Fakkah "The broken" ring of stars "Humorous"الفكة
Alpheratz Surrat al-Faras The navel of the stallion "Navel Persians"سُرَّة الفرس
Alrescha Al-Risha' The ropesالرشاء
Alsafi Al-Athafi The tripods for cooking on Sigma "Andiron"الأثافي
Alsuhail Suhail Canopus سهيل
Altair (Al-Nasr) At-Ta'ir the flying (eagle) النّسر الطّائر
Altais At-Tais The great serpent "Goat"التيس
Alterf At-Tarf "The glance" of the lion "Party"الطرف
Aludra Al-'Udhrah The maidenhead "Faces"العذرة
Alula Australis, Alula Borealis (Al-Qafzah) al-Ula the first (leap) القفزة الأولى
Alya Al-Alyah The fatty tail of a sheep "Mechanism"الألية
Angetenar 'Arjat an-Nahr Curve of the river "Winding River"عرجة النهر
Ankaa Al-'Anka' Phoenixالعنقاء
Arkab Al-'Urqub The heel-tendon "Achilles"العرقوب
Arneb Al-Arnab The hareالأرنب
Arrakis Ar-Raqis The dancerالراقص
Atik Al-'Atiq "The shoulder" of the Pleiades "Responsibility Chandelier"عاتق الثّريّا
Auva Al-'Awwa' The barker "Howl"العوّاء
Azha Al-Udhi The hatching-placeأزهى

B

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Baham Al-Biham The livestockسعد البهام
Baten Kaitos Batn Qaytus Belly of Cetusبطن قيطس
Beid Al-Baid The eggsبيض
Benetnash Banat Na'sh Daughters of the bierبنات النعش
Betelgeuse Ibet al-Jauza' Armpit of the Central Oneإبط الجوزاء
Botein Al-Butayn The little bellyبطين

C

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Caph Al-Kaff "The palm" of the Pleiadesالكـــف الخضيب
Celbalrai Kalb ar-Ra'i The shepherd's dogكلب الراعي
Chort Al-Kharat The ribالخرت
Cursa Al-Kursi The chairالكرسي

D

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Dabih Sa'd adh-dhabih The lucky star of "the slaughterer"سّعد الذّابح
Deneb Dhanab ad-Dajajah Tail of the fowlذنب الدجاجة
Deneb Algedi Dhanab al-Jady Tail of the goatذنب الجدي
Deneb Dulfim Dhanab ad-Dulfin Tail of the Dolphinذنب الدّلفين
Deneb Kaitos Dhanab Qaytus Tail of Cetusذنب قيطس
Denebola Dhanab al-Asad Tail of the lionذنب الاسد
Diphda Ad-Difda' Al-awwal The first frogالضّفدع الأوّل
Dschubba Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the scorpionالجبهة
Dubhe Kahil Ad-Dubb The back of the bearكاهل الدّب
Dziban Adh-Dhi'ban The two wolvesالذئبان

E

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Edasich Adh-Dhikh The hyenaالذّيخ
El Nath An-Nath The buttingالنطح
Eltanin At-Tinnin The great serpentالتنين
Enif Al-Anf The noseالأنف
Errai Ar-Ra'i The shepherdالراعي

F

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Fomalhaut Fum al-Hut Mouth of the whaleفم الحوت
Furud Al-Furud "Individual" starsالفرد

G

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Gienah Al-Janah The wingالجناح
Gomeisa Al-Ghumaisa' The bleary-eyed oneالغميصاء

H

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Hadar Hadar Civilizationحضار
Hamal Al-Hamal The ramنيّر الحمل
Heka Al-Haq'ah The white spotالهقعة
Homam Sa'd al-humam The lucky star of "the high-mindedسعد الهمام

I

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Izar Al-Izar The girdle, or, The loin-clothالإزار

J

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Jabbah Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the scorpionالجبهة

K

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Kabdhilinan Kaab-Dhil-E'nan The rein hold كعب ذي العنان
Kaffaljidhma Al-Kaff al-Jadhma' The cut-short handالكف الجذماء
Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Kaus Media Al-Qaus the bow القوس
Keid Al-Qaid The broken egg-shellsالقيض
Kitalpha Qit'at al-Faras Part of the horseقطعة الفرس
Kochab Al-Kaukab Planetكوكب
Kurhah Al-Qurhah "The blaze" on a horse's browالقرحة

L

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Lesath al-Las'ah The sting اللسعة
Luh-Denebola / Denebola Dhanab al-Asad/al-Layth the lion's tail ذنب الاسد/الليث

M

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Maasym Al-Mi'sam The wristمعصم الثّريّا
Maaz Al-Ma'z The he-goatالمعز
Marfik Al-Mirfaq The elbow المرفق
Markab Mankib al-Faras "The shoulder" of the horseمنكب الفرس
Matar Sa'd Matar The lucky star of "the rain"سعد مطر
Mebsuta Al-Mabsutah "The outstretched" pawالذّراع المبسوطه
Megrez Al-Maghriz "The insertion-point" of the Bear'sمغرز
Meissa Al-Maisan The shining oneالميسان
Mekbuda Al-Maqbudah "The pulled-in" pawالذّراع المقبوضة
Menkalinan Mankib Dhi-al-'Inan Shoulder of the rein-holderمنكب ذي العنان
Menkar Al-Minkhar The nostril المنخر
Menkent Mankib Kentaurus The nostril منكب قنطورس
Menkib Al-Mankib "The shoulder" of the Pleiadesمنكب الثّريّا
Merak Al-Maraqq The loinsالمراق
Mintaka Al-Mintaqah The beltالمنطقة
Mirak Al-Mi'zar The loin-clothالمراق
Mirfak Al-Mirfaq "The elbow" of the Pleiadesمرفق الثّريّا
Mizar mi'zar apronالمئزر
Mothallah Al-Muthallath The triangleالمثلث
Muphrid Al-Mufrid The solitary oneالمفرد
Murzim Al-Murzim The roarerالمرزم

N

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Nashira Sa'd Nashirah Lucky star of Nashirah سعد ناشرة
Nekkar al-Baqqar The cattleman البقار
Nihal an-Nihal The camels quenching their thirst النهال
Nusakan an-Nusaqan The two seriesالنسقان
Nushaba / Alnasl an-Nasl The arrowhead النصل / نشابة

O

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Okda al-'Uqdah The knotالعقدة

P

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Phact Al-Fakhitah The doveفاخثة
Phad Al-Fakhidh The thighفخذ
Pherkad Al-Farqad The calfفرقد
Pleiades Ath-Thuraya The height and brightness الثريا

R

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Rasalased Ra's al-Assad Head of the lionرأس الأسد
Rasalgethi Ra's al-Jathi Head of the kneeling oneرأس الجاثي
Rasalhague Ra's al-Hawwa' Head of the snake-manرأس الحوّاء
Rastaban Ra's ath-Thu'ban Head of the snakeرأس الثعبان
Rigel Rijl al-Jabbar Foot of the giantرجل الجبّار
Rigilkent Rijl al-Qanturus Foot of the centaurرجل القنطورس
Risha Ar-Risha' The ropeالرشاء
Rukbah Ar-Rukbah The knee الركبة
Rukbat Rukbat al-Rami Knee of the archer ركبة الرامي

S

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Sabik as-Sabiq The precedingالسابق
Sadachbia Sa'd al-Akhbiyah Lucky star of the tentsسعد الاخبية
Sadalbari Sa'd al-Bari' Lucky star of the excellent oneسعد البارع
Sadalmelik Sa'd al-Malik Lucky star of the kingسعد الملك
Sadalsuud Sa'd as-Su'ud Luck of lucksسعد السعود
Sadr as-Sadr The breastالصدر
Saiph as-Saif The swordالسيف
Scheat as-Sa'id The shoulderالساعد
Shaula ash-Shaulah The raised tail of the scorpionالشولة
Shedir as-Sadr The breastالصدر
Sheliak al-Shelaiyak - الشلياق
Sheratan ash-Sharatan The two signsالشرطان
Sirrah Surrat al-Faras Belly-button of the female horseسرة الفرس
Skat as-Saq The legالساق
Sulafat as-Sulhafat The tortoise/turtle السلحفاة

T

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Talitha Australis, Talitha Borealis Ath-Thalithah the third (leap) القفزة الثّالثة
Tania Australis, Tania Borealis Ath-Thaniyah the second (leap) القفزة الثّانية
Tarf At-Tarf "The glance" of the lionالطرف
Thuban Ath-Thu'ban The snakeالثعبان

U

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Unukalhai 'Unuq al-Hayyah Neck of the snakeعنق الحية

V

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Vega Al-Waqi' "The stooping" eagleالنسر الواقع

W

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Wasat Wasat as-Sama' "Middle" of the sky وسط السماء
Wezen al-Wazen The weight الوزن

Y

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Yed Posterior Al-Yad The succeeding one of the Snake Man's handمؤخّر يدالحوّاء
Yed Prior Al-Yad The preceding one of the Snake Man's handمقدّم يدالحوّاء

Z

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Zaurac Az-Zawraq The boat الزورق
Zavijava Zawiyat al-'Awwa' The angle of al 'awa' زاوية العواء
Zawiah Az-Zawiyah The angle الزاوية
Zubenelgenubi Az-Zuban al-Janubi "Southern Claw" زبانى/الزبان الجنوبي
Zubeneshamali Az-Zuban ash-Shamali "Northern Claw" زبانى/الزبان الشمالي

Others

Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Milky Way Darb Al-TabanahThe Milky Road درب التبانة
Andromeda Galaxy "small cloud"[3][4] "little cloud" was the Arabic name for the Andromeda Galaxy, which was first mentioned by Al-Sufi in his Book of Fixed Starsالسحابة الصغيرة

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Stargazing Network". Stargazing.net. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Star Names: Where Do They Come From? And Can You Buy One?", RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996, (archived 2007)
  3. ↑ Henbest, N.; Couper, H. (1994). The guide to the galaxy. p. 31. ISBN 0-521-45882-X.
  4. ↑ 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