List of Arabic star names
The Book of Fixed Stars , a 10th-century synthesis of the comprehensive star catalogue in Ptolemy ’s Almagest with local Arabic astronomical traditions on the constellations (notably the constellation system of the Anwā’ ). This page shows Orion (al-jabbar , "the giant"). The star Rigel in his foot derives its name from the Arabic rijl , "foot."
This is a list of Arabic star names . 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
Very old star names originated among people who lived in the Arabian Peninsula more than a thousand years ago, after the rise of Islam .[ 2] However, some 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.[ 3]
In 2016, the IAU designated official star names to resolve the difficulty of using different naming systems.[ 4] Many stars were given the commonly used Arabic name.
List
A
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Arabic name (vowels)
Scientific star name
Acamar
Ākhiru-n-Nahr
the River's or Stream's End / Tail / Edge / Border
آخر النهر
آخِرُ ٱلْنََهْر
Theta Eridani
Achernar
Ākhiru-n-Nahr
the River's or Stream's End / Tail / Edge / Border
آخر النهر
آخِرُ ٱلْنََهْر
Alpha Eridani
Acrab
ʽAqrab
the Scorpion
عقرب
عَقْرَب
Beta Scorpii
Acubens
ʼaz-Zubānā
the Claw / Dart / Sting
الزبانى
الْزُّبَانَى
Alpha Cancri
Adhafera
aḍ-Ḍafiyrah
the Braid / Curl / Strand (of the lion 's mane)
الضفيرة
الْضَّفِيرَة
Zeta Leonis
Adhara
al-ʽAdhārā
the Virgin / Nymph
العذارى
الْعَذَارَى
Epsilon Canis Majoris A
Adhil
adh-Dhayl
the Tail / Annex
الذيل
الْذَيْل
Xi Andromedae
Adib
adh-Dhiʼb
the Wolf
الذئب
الْذِّئْب
Alpha Draconis, "Thuban"
Ain
ʽAyn
the Eye (of the bull )
عين
عَيْن
Epsilon Tauri
Aladfar
al-ʼUẓfūr
the Talons (of the Swooping Eagle)
الأظفر
أُظْفُور
Eta Lyrae
Alawaid
al-ʽAwāʼidh
the Protecting Mother Camels; the Old Camels; "the Four"
الربع, العوائذ
الْرُّبَع, الْعَوَائِذ
Gamma Draconis , Xi Draconis , Nu Draconis , Beta Draconis
al-ʽAwwād
the Lutanist / Lute Player
العواد
الْعَوَّاد
Albali
al-Bāliʽ
the Swallower
البالع
البَالِع
Epsilon Aquarii
Alchibah
al-Khibāʼ
the Tent [failed verification ]
الخباء
الخِبَاء
Alpha Corvi
Alcor
al-khawār
the Faint One
الخوار
الخوار
80 Ursae Majoris
Aldebaran
ad-Dabarān
the Follower (of the Pleiades )
الدبران
اَلدَّبَرَان
Alpha Tauri
Alderamin
adh-Dhirāʽu l-Yamīn
the Right Arm (of Cepheus )
الذراع اليمين
الذّراع اليَمِين
Alpha Cephei
Aldhibah
ʼaḍ-Ḍibaāʽ [Adh-Dhibaaʽ], ʼaḍ-Ḍibāʽ [Adh-Dhibaaʽe]
the Hyenas
الضباع
الْضِّبَاع
Zeta Draconis
Aldhibain
ʼadh-Dhiʼbayn [Adzh-Dzhi'bayn / Adzh-Dzhi'ebayn]
the Two Hyenas / Wolves
الذئبين
الْذِّئْبَيْن
Zeta Draconis (Aldhibah ) , Eta Draconis
Aldulfin
Al Dhanab al Dulfīm
the Dolphin's Tail
الذنب الدلفين
الذَّنَبُ الدُّلْفِين
Epsilon Delphini
Alfirk
al-Firqah
the Flock of sheep
الفرقة
الفِرْقَة
Beta Cephei
Algebar
(Rijl) ul-Jabbār
(Foot of) the Giant
رجل الجبار
رَجْلَ الجَبَّار
Beta Orionis, "Rigel"
Algedi
al-Jady
the Goat
الجدي
الجَدْي
Alpha2 Capricorni
Algenib
al-Janb
the Flank (of Pegasus )
الجنب
الجَنْب
Gamma Pegasi
Algieba
al-Jab'hah
the Forehead (of the Lion )
الجبهة
الجَبْهَة
Gamma Leonis
Algol
(Ra'as) al-Ghūl
(Head of) the Ghoul
رأس الغول
رَأسَ الغُول
Beta Persei, the "Demon Star"
Algorab
al-Ghurāb
the Crow
الغراب
الغُرَاب
Delta Corvi
Alhena
al-Hanʽah
the Brand (on the neck of the camel)
الهنعة
الهَنْعَة
Gamma Geminorum, "Almeisan"
Alioth
Al-Jawn
The black horse "John"
الجون
الجَوْن
Epsilon Ursae Majoris
Alkaid
al-Qā'id (banāt naʽash)
the Leader (of the mourning maidens)
القائد بنات نعش
القائِد بَنات نَعْش
Eta Ursae Majoris
Alkes
al-Ka's
the Cup
الكأس
الکَأْس
Alpha Crateris
Almak, Almach
ʼal-ʽAnāqi ʼl-Arḍ [Al-ʽAnaaqi 'l-Ardh]
the Caracal , Desert Lynx ; "She-kid, She-Goat of the land"
عناق الأرض
عَنَاقِ ٱلْأَرْض
Gamma Andromedae
Almeisan
al-Maysān
the Shining one
الميسان
المَيْسَان
Gamma Geminorum, "Alhena"
Alnair
an-Nayyir
the Bright one
النير
النّيّر
Alpha Gruis
Alnasl
an-Naşl
the Blade
النصل
النَّصْل
Gamma² Sagittarii
Alnilam
an-Niżm
the String of Pearls
النظم
النَّظْم
Epsilon Orionis
Alnitak
an-Niṭāq
the Girdle (Orion's Belt )
النطاق
النِّطَاق
Zeta Orionis
Alphard
al-Fard
the Solitary one
الفرد
الفَرْد
Alpha Hydrae
Alphecca
(Nayyir) al-Fakkah
(the Bright one of) the Broken (Ring)
نير الفكة
نَيِّر الفَکَّة
Alpha Coronae Borealis
Alpheratz
(Surrat) al-Faras
(Navel of) the Mare
سرة الفرس
سُرَّة الفَرَس
Alpha Andromedae
Alruba '
al-Rubaʽ
"the foal"
الربع
الرُّبع
HD 161693, HR 6618
Alrescha
ar-Rishā'
the Well-Rope
الرشاء
الرِّشَاء
Alpha Piscium
Alsafi
aṣ-Ṣaāfiyy [Asw-Swaafiyy], aṣ-Ṣāfiyy [As-Ssaafiyy]
the Tripods
الصافيّ
الْصَّافِيّ
Sigma Draconis
Alsuhail
Suhayl
Glorious
سهيل
سّهَيْل
any of: Canopus , Velorum , or Lambda Velorum
Altair
(an-Nisr) uṭ-Ṭāʼir
the Flying (Eagle )
النسر الطائر
النَّسْر الطَّائِر
Alpha Aquilae
Altais
at-Tays
the Goat
التيس
التَّيْس
Delta Draconis
Alterf
aṭ-Ṭarf
the View (of the Lion )
الطرف
الطَّرْف
Lambda Leonis
Aludra
al-ʽUdhrah
Virginity
العذرة
العُذْرَة
Eta Canis Majoris
Alula Australis , Alula Borealis
(al-Qafzat) ul-Ūla'
the First (Leap)
القفزة الأولى
Xi Ursae Majoris and Nu Ursae Majoris
Alya
al-Alyah
the fatty Tail of a sheep
الألية
Theta Serpentis
Alsephina
Al-Safinah
the ship
السفينة
Delta Velorum
Angetenar
ʽArjat un-Nahr
Curve of the River
عرجة النهر
Tau² Eridani
Ankaa
al-ʽAnqā'
Anqa , Phoenix
العنقاء
Alpha Phoenicis
Arkab
al-ʽArqūb
the Hamstring
العرقوب
Beta Sagittarii
Arneb
al-Arnab
the Hare
الأرنب
Alpha Leporis
Arrakis
ʼar-Rāqiṣ [Ar-Raaqis, Ar-Raaqiss]
the Dancer; Trotting Camel
الراقص
الْرَّاقِص
Arrakis
Asuja (improperly spelt Asuia)
ʼash-Shujaāʽ [Ash-Shujaaʽ], ʼash-Shujāʽ [Ash-Shujaaʽe]
the Hydra / Sea-Serpent
الشجاع
الْشُّجَاع
Beta Draconis
Atik
al-ʽĀtiq ath-Thurayyā
the Shoulder (of Perseus)
عَاتِق الثّريّا
Omicron Persei
Auva
al-ʽAwwā'
the Barking (Dog)
العواء
الْعَوَّاء
Delta Virginis, "Minelauva"
Azfar Adib
ʼAẓfaāru ʼdh-Dhiʼb [Azw·faru ʼdh-Dhiʼb], ʼAẓfaāru ʼdh-Dhiʼb [Azz·faru ʼdh-Dhiʼb]
the Wolf's Nails / Fingerprints
أظفار الذئب
أَظْفَارُ ٱلْذِّئْب
Azfar Adib
Azha
Āshiyānah (Persian : آشیانه Āshyāneh )
(Ostrich) Nest
اشیانه
أَشیانَة
Eta Eridani
Star groups
Parent Group
Transliterated Group
Meaning
Group Name
Transliterated Subgroup
Meaning
Subgroup Name
Scientific star name
Adhara
al-ʽAdhāriy
the Virgins / Nymphs
الْعَذَارِي
ʼAwwalu-l-ʽAdhāriy
First of the Virgins / Nymphs
أَوَّلُ ٱلْعَذَارِي
Epsilon Canis Majoris
Adhara
al-ʽAdhāriy
the Virgins / Nymphs
الْعَذَارِي
Thāniyu-l-ʽAdhāriy
Second of the Virgins / Nymphs
ثَانِيُ ٱلْعَذَارِي
Omicron² Canis Majoris
In Arabic astronomy, Draco was divided into three parts :
Alawaid, the first part and the main body of Draco, also called الْرُّبَع ar-Rubaʽ .
Arrakis
Azfar Adib
B
C
D
E
F
G
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Gienah
al-Janāḥ
the Wing
الجناح
refers to two stars:
Gomeisa
al-Ghumaişā'
the Bleary-eyed one
الغميصاء
Beta Canis Minoris
H
I
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Iklil
Iklīl al Jabhah
The Crown of the Forehead
إكليل الجبهة
Rho Scorpii
Izar
Al-Izar
The girdle, or, The loin-cloth
الإزار
Epsilon Boötis
J
K
L
M
N
O
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Okda
al-ʿUqdah
the Knot
العقدة
Alpha Piscium
P
R
S
T
U
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Unukalhai
ʿUnuq ul-Ḥayyah
Neck of the Snake
عنق الحية
Alpha Serpentis
V
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Vega
an-Nisr ul-Wāqiʿ
the Falling Eagle
النسر الواقع
Alpha Lyrae
W
Y
Common name
Arabic name (transliteration)
Meaning
Arabic name
Scientific star name
Yed Posterior
Mu'akhkhir Yad ul-Ḥawwā'
(Back of the Snake Man's) Hand
مؤخّر يد الحوّاء
Epsilon Ophiuchi
Yed Prior
Muqaddim Yad ul-Ḥawwā'
(Palm of the Snake Man's) Hand
مقدّم يد الحوّاء
Delta Ophiuchi
Z
Others
See also
References
External links
8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th
Topics
Works
Instruments Concepts Institutions Influences Influenced