List of Arabic star names
Encyclopedia
This is a list of traditional Arabic
names for star
s. 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.
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 Persian
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.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
names for star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s. In Western astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, most of the accepted star names are Arabic, a few are Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and some are of unknown origin. Typically only bright stars have names.
History of Arabic star names
Very old star names originated among people who lived in the Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
more than a thousand years ago, before the rise of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. However, many Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
star names sprang up later in history, as translations of ancient Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
descriptions.
The astronomer Claudius Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
in his Almagest
Almagest
The Almagest is a 2nd-century mathematical and astronomical treatise on the apparent motions of the stars and planetary paths. Written in Greek by Claudius Ptolemy, a Roman era scholar of Egypt,...
(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
Zij
Zīj is the generic name applied to Islamic astronomical books that tabulate parameters used for astronomical calculations of the positions of the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets. The name is derived from the Middle Persian term zih or zīg, meaning cord...
treatises. The most notable of these is the Book of Fixed Stars
Book of Fixed Stars
The Book of Fixed Stars is an astronomical text written by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi around 964. The book was written in Arabic, although the author himself was Persian...
written by the Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
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.
A
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acamar | Akhir an-Nahr | End of the river "Another River" | اخر النهر |
| Achernar Achernar Achernar , sometimes spelled Achenar, is the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus and the ninth-brightest star in the night sky. Of the top ten apparent brightest stars —Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri, Arcturus, Vega, Capella, Rigel, Procyon, Achernar and Betelgeuse—Achernar is the hottest... |
Akhir an-Nahr | End of the river "Another River" | اخر النهر |
| Acrab | Al-'Aqrab | The scorpion | عقرب |
| Acubens | Az-Zubana | The claw | الزبانى |
| Adhafera | Ad-Dafirah | The curl "Plexus" | الضفيره |
| Adhara Epsilon Canis Majoris Epsilon Canis Majoris is the second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It has the Bayer designation "epsilon" despite being the second brightest and not the fifth brightest star in its constellation. It has the traditional name Adhara... |
Al-'Adhara | The maidens "Virgins" | العذارى |
| Adib | Al-dhi’b | The wolf | الذئب |
| Adhil Adhil The name Adhil has been applied to a number of stars, especially in the constellation Andromeda.- Origin :Adhil was originally applied to the description of Ptolemy's 21st and 22nd of Andromeda in his star catalogue in Latin translated version of Almagest.- Renaissance times :However Bayer gave... |
Al-Dhayl | The tail | الذيل |
| Ain Epsilon Tauri Epsilon Tauri is an orange giant star, spectral type of K0 III, located approximately 147 light-years away from the Sun in the constellation of Taurus. It is a member of the Hyades open cluster... |
'Ain | the "eye" of the Bull "Eye" | عين |
| Albali | Al-Bali' | The swallower | البالع |
| Alchibah | Al-Khiba' | The tent | الخباء |
| Aldebaran Aldebaran Aldebaran is a red giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and is one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky... |
Al-Dabaran | "The follower" of the Pleiades | الدبران |
| Alderamin | Adh-Dhira' al-Yamin | The right arm | الذراع الايمن |
| Alfirk | Al-Firq | The flock "Difference" | الفرق |
| Algedi | Al-Jady | The goat "Capricorn" | الجدي |
| Algenib Gamma Pegasi Gamma Pegasi is a star in the constellation of Pegasus. It also has the traditional name Algenib; confusingly however, this name is also used for Alpha Persei.... |
Al-Janb | The flank "Side" | الجنب |
| Algieba | Al-Jabhah | "The forehead" of the lion "Front" | الجبهة |
| Algebar | Al-Jabbar | The giant | الجبّار |
| Algol | Al-Ghul | The ghoul | رأس الغول |
| Algorab | Al-Ghurab | The raven | الغراب |
| Alhena | Al-Han'ah | The mark of the brand | الهنعه |
| 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 cup | الكأس |
| 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 |
| Alnilam | An-Nidham | The string of pearls "Systems" | النّظم |
| Alnitak | An-Nitaq | The belt "Scale" | النطاق |
| Alnasl | Al-nasl | The arrowhead "Blade" | النصل |
| Alphard Alphard Alphard is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra. The name Alphard is from the Arabic الفرد , "the solitary one", there being no other bright stars near it. It was also known as the "backbone of the Serpent" to the Arabs. In ancient China it formed part of an asterism called the "red bird"... |
Al-Fard | The solitary one "Individual" | الفرد |
| Alphecca | Al-Fakkah | "The broken" ring of stars "Humorous" | الفكه |
| Alpheratz | Surrat al-Faras | The navel of the stallion "Navel Persians" | سرة الفرس |
| Alrescha | Al-Risha' | The ropes | الرشاء |
| Alsafi | Al-Athafi | The tripods for cooking on Sigma "Andiron" | الأثافي |
| Alsuhail | Suhail | Untranslatable | 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" | العذره |
| Alula Australis | Al-Qafzah al-Ula | "the first leap" | القفزةالأولى |
| Alula Borealis | Al-Qafzah al-Ula | "the first leap" | القفزةالأولى |
| 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' | Phoenix | العنقاء |
| Arkab | Al-'Urqub | The heel-tendon "Achilles" | العرقوب |
| Arneb | Al-Arnab | The hare | الأرنب |
| Arrakis Mu Draconis Mu Draconis is a binary star with a combined magnitude of 4.92m located approximately 85 light years from the Solar System, near the head of the constellation Draco. The component stars are nearly identical yellow-white stars in a tight orbit... |
Ar-Raqis | The dancer | الراقص |
| Atik Omicron Persei Omicron Persei is a star in the constellation Perseus. It has the traditional name Atik .... |
Al-'Atiq | "The shoulder" of the Pleiades "Responsibility Chandelier" | عاتق الثّريّا |
| Auva | Al-'Awwa' | The barker "Howl" | العوّاء |
| Azha | Al-Udhi | The hatching-place | اشيانة |
B
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baham Theta Pegasi Theta Pegasi is a star in the constellation Pegasus. It has the traditional name Baham .In Chinese, , meaning Rooftop, refers to an asterism consisting of θ Pegasi, α Aquarii and ε Pegasi. Consequently, θ Pegasi itself is known as Theta Pegasi is of spectral class A2 and has apparent magnitude... |
Al-Biham | The livestock | سعد البهام |
| Baten Kaitos Zeta Ceti Zeta Ceti is a star in the constellation Cetus. It has the traditional name Baten Kaitos .... |
Batn Qaytus | Belly of Cetus | بطن قيطس |
| Beid | Al-Baid | The eggs | بيض |
| Benetnash | Banat Na'sh | Daughters of the bier | بنات النعش |
| Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, also known by its Bayer designation Alpha Orionis , is the eighth brightest star in the night sky and second brightest star in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel only rarely... |
Yad al-Jauza' | Hand of Gemini | يد الجوزاء |
| Botein | Al-Butayn | The little belly | بطين |
C
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caph | Al-Kaff | "The palm" of the Pleiades | الكـــف الخضيب |
| Celbalrai Beta Ophiuchi Beta Ophiuchi is a K-type giant star in the constellation Ophiuchus. It has the traditional names Cebalrai , Cheleb, or Kelb Alrai, or sometimes just Alrai... |
Kalb ar-Ra'i | The shepherd's dog | كلب الراعي |
| Chort Chort In Slavic mythology , Chort is considered to be a demon of total evil, with horns, hoofs, skinny tail, and a pig-face. He is the son of the Slavic god Chernobog and the goddess Mara. In Ukraine, he is also known as haspyda, didko, irod, and kutsyi. In folklore, his physical appearance is same as... |
Al-Kharat | The rib | الخرت |
| Cursa | Al-Kursi | The chair | الكرسي |
D
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dabih | Sa'd adh-dhabih | The lucky star of "the slaughterer" | سّعد الذّابح |
| Deneb Deneb Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus and one of the vertices of the Summer Triangle. It is the 19th brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 1.25. A blue-white supergiant, Deneb is also one of the most luminous nearby stars... |
Dhanab ad-Dajajah | Tail of the fowl | ذنب الدجاجة |
| Deneb Dulfim Epsilon Delphini Epsilon Delphini is a blue-white giant star approximately 358 light-years away in the constellation Delphinus. It has the traditional name Deneb Dulfim , from the Arabic ذنب الدلفين ðanab ad-dulfīn "tail of the dolphin."The term ðanab ad-dulfīn or Dzaneb al Delphin was appeared in the... |
Dhanab ad-Dulfin | Tail of the Dolphin | ذنب الدّلفين |
| Deneb Algedi | Dhanab al-Jady | Tail of the goat | ذنب الجدي |
| Deneb Kaitos | Dhanab Qaytus | Tail of Cetus | ذنب قيطس |
| Denebola Denebola Denebola is the second brightest star in the constellation Leo. It is an A-class star that is about distant from earth, and has a luminosity about twelve times that of the sun. Its apparent magnitude is 2.14... |
Dhanab al-Asad | Tail of the lion | ذنب الاسد |
| Ad-Difda' Al-awwal | The first frog | الضّفدع الأوّل | |
| Dschubba | Al-Jabhah | "The forehead" of the scorpion | الجبهة |
| Dubhe | Kahil Ad-Dubb | The back of the bear | كاهل الدّب |
| Dziban Psi Draconis Psi Draconis is a star in the constellation Draco. It also has the traditional name Dziban, from the Arabic Adh-Dhi'ban, meaning "The two wolves" or "The two jackals"... |
Adh-Dhi'ban | The two wolves | الذئبان |
E
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edasich | Adh-Dhikh | The hyena | الذّيخ |
| El Nath | An-Nath | The butting | النطح |
| Eltanin | At-Tinnin | The great serpent | التنين |
| Enif | Al-Anf | The nose | الأنف |
| Errai | Ar-Ra'i | The shepherd | الراعي |
F
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fomalhaut Fomalhaut Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus and one of the brightest stars in the sky. Fomalhaut can be seen low in the southern sky in the northern hemisphere in fall and early winter evenings. Near latitude 50˚N, it sets around the time Sirius rises, and does not... |
Fam al-Hut | Mouth of the whale | فم الحوت |
| Furud | Al-Furud | "Individual" stars | الفرد |
G
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gienah Gienah Gienah can be a star:* Gienah in Corvus, or γ Corvi, is a star in the Corvus constellation* Gienah in Cygnus, or ε Cygni, is a star in the Cygnus constellationGienah derives from the Arabic, Al-Janah, meaning "The wing".... |
Al-Janah | The wing | الجناح |
| Gomeisa | Al-Ghumaisa' | The bleary-eyed one | الغميصاء |
H
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hadar Beta Centauri Beta Centauri , also known as Hadar or Agena, is the second brightest star in the constellation Centaurus and the tenth brightest star in the night sky. Beta Centauri is a B1 III blue-white giant star that the astrometric Hipparcos satellite calculates as about 161 parsecs or 525 light-years from... |
Hadar | Civilization | حضار |
| Hamal | Al-Hamal | The ram | نيّر الحمل |
| Heka Lambda Orionis Lambda Orionis is a star in the constellation Orion. It has the traditional names Meissa or Heka. "Meissa" derives from the Arabic "Al-Maisan" which means "The Shining One". This term was used for Gamma Gemini , but was somehow also mistakenly applied to λ Orionis and the name stuck... |
Al-Haq'ah | The white spot | الهقعة |
| Homam Zeta Pegasi Zeta Pegasi is a star in the constellation Pegasus. It has the traditional name, Homam .... |
Sa'd al-humam | The lucky star of "the high-minded | سعد الهمام |
I
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izar Epsilon Boötis Epsilon Boötis is a double star in the constellation Boötes. It has the traditional names Izar and Pulcherrima.... |
Al-Izar | The girdle, or, The loin-cloth | الإزار |
J
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabbah | Al-Jabhah | "The forehead" of the scorpion | الجبهة |
K
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabdhilinan | Qabd Al-E'nan | The rein hold | قبض العنان |
| Kaffaljidhma | Al-Kaff al-Jadhma' | The cut-short hand | الكف الجذماء |
| Kaus Australis | Al-Qaus | The southern one of "the bow" | القوس |
| Kaus Borealis | Al-Qaus | The northern one of "the bow" | القوس |
| Kaus Media | Al-Qaus | The middle one of "the bow" | القوس |
| Keid | Al-Qaid | The broken egg-shells | القيض |
| Kitalpha | Qit'at al-Faras | Part of the horse | قطعة الفرس |
| Kochab Beta Ursae Minoris Beta Ursae Minoris is the second brightest star in the bowl of the "Little Dipper,"the constellation Ursa Minor. It has the traditional name Kochab. Kochab's magnitude is 2.07. It is 16 degrees from Polaris. The star is an orange giant and is 126.4 ± 2.5 light years from Earth. It is 130 times... |
Al-Kaukab | Planet | كوكب |
| Kurhah Xi Cephei Xi Cephei is a star in the constellation Cepheus. It has the traditional name Kurhah or Alkirdah or Al Kirduh, and the name was from Al Ḳurḥaḥ , an Arabic word that translated as a white spot, or blaze, in the face of a horse and other suggestion was Al Ḳirdah , the Ape.Xi Cephei belongs to... |
Al-Qurhah | "The blaze" on a horse's brow | القرحة |
L
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesath | Al-Las'ah | The sting | اللسعة |
| Luh-Denebola Denebola Denebola is the second brightest star in the constellation Leo. It is an A-class star that is about distant from earth, and has a luminosity about twelve times that of the sun. Its apparent magnitude is 2.14... |
dhanab al-asad | the lion's tail | ذنب الليث |
M
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasym | Al-Mi'sam | The wrist | معصم الثّريّا |
| Maaz Epsilon Aurigae Epsilon Aurigae is a star in the constellation Auriga. It is traditionally known as Almaaz, Haldus, or Al Anz. Epsilon Aurigae is an unusual eclipsing binary system comprising an F0 supergiant and a companion which is generally accepted to be a huge dark disk orbiting an unknown object, possibly a... |
Al-Ma'z | The he-goat | المعز |
| Marfik | Al-Mirfaq | The elbow | المرفق |
| Markab | Mankib al-Faras | "The shoulder" of the horse | منكب الفرس |
| Matar Eta Pegasi Eta Pegasi is a star in the constellation Pegasus. It has the traditional name Matar .Eta Pegasi is of spectral class G2II-III and has apparent magnitude +3.1. It is approximately 215 light years from Earth. It has a close companion of class F0V... |
Sa'd Matar | The lucky star of "the rain" | سعد مطر |
| Mebsuta | Al-Mabsutah | "The outstretched" paw | الذّراع المبسوطه |
| Megrez | Al-Maghriz | "The insertion-point" of the Bear's | مغرز |
| Meissa | Al-Maisan | The shining one | الميسان |
| Mekbuda | Al-Maqbudah | "The pulled-in" paw | الذّراع المقبوضة |
| Menkalinan | Mankib Dhi-al-'Inan | Shoulder of the rein-holder | منكب ذي العنان |
| Menkar | Al-Minkhar | The nostril | المنخر |
| Menkib | Al-Mankib | "The shoulder" of the Pleiades | منكب الثّريّا |
| Merak Beta Ursae Majoris Beta Ursae Majoris is a star in the constellation of Ursa Major. It has the traditional name Merak.It is more familiar to northern hemisphere observers as one of the "pointer stars" in the Big Dipper, and a straight line connecting it with nearby Alpha Ursae Majoris extends to Polaris, the north... |
Al-Maraqq | The loins | المراق |
| Mintaka | Al-Mintaqah | The belt | المنطقة |
| Mirak Epsilon Boötis Epsilon Boötis is a double star in the constellation Boötes. It has the traditional names Izar and Pulcherrima.... |
Al-Mi'zar | The loin-cloth | المراق |
| Mirfak | Al-Mirfaq | "The elbow" of the Pleiades | مرفق الثّريّا |
| Mizar Mizar (star) The Mizar–Alcor stellar sextuple system consists of the quadruple system Mizar and the binary system Alcor.- Description :Mizar is a quadruple system of two binary stars in the constellation Ursa Major and is the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle. Its apparent magnitude is 2.23... |
miʾzar | apron | المئزر |
| Mothallah | Al-Muthallath | The triangle | المثلث |
| Muphrid | Al-Mufrid | The solitary one | المفرد |
| Murzim | Al-Murzim | The roarer | المرزم |
N
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashira | Sa'd Nashirah | The lucky star of Nashirah | سعد ناشرة |
| Nekkar | Al-Baqqar | The cattleman | البقار |
| Nasl NASL - Soccer :* North American Soccer League, a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.* North American Soccer League , a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began play in 2011.- Starcraft II... |
An-Nasl | The arrowhead | النصل |
| Nihal Beta Leporis Beta Leporis is the second brightest star in the constellation of Lepus. It is a G-type bright giant star approximately 159 light-years from the Earth and has an apparent visual magnitude of approximately 2.84.It is also known as Nihal,"quenching their thirst"... |
An-Nihal | The camels quenching their thirst | النهال |
| Nusakan | An-Nasaqan | The two series | النسقان |
O
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okda Alpha Piscium Alpha Piscium is a star in the constellation Pisces. It has the traditional name Alrescha , from the Arabic الرشآء al-rišā’ "the well rope". Less common names are Kaitain and Okda, the latter from the Arabic عقدة ‘uqdah "knot".The distance to α Psc is about 139 light years... |
Al-'Uqdah | The knot | العقدة |
P
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phact | Al-Fakhitah | The dove | فاخثة |
| Phad | Al-Fakhidh | The thigh | فخذ |
| Pherkad | Al-Farqad | The calf | فرقد |
R
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasalased Epsilon Leonis Epsilon Leonis is the fifth brightest star in the constellation Leo, consistent with its Bayer designation Epsilon... |
Ra's al-Asad | Head of the lion | رأس الأسد |
| Rasalgethi | Ra's al-Jathi | Head of the kneeling one | رأس الجاثي |
| Rasalhague | Ra's al-Hawwa' | Head of the snake-man | رأس الحوّاء |
| Rastaban | Ra's ath-Thu'ban | Head of the snake | رأس الثعبان |
| Rigel Rigel Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and the sixth brightest star in the sky, with visual magnitude 0.18... |
Ar-Rijl | The foot | رجل الجبّار |
| Rigilkent Alpha Centauri Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus... |
Rijl Qanturus | Foot of the centaur | رجل قنطورس |
| Risha Alpha Piscium Alpha Piscium is a star in the constellation Pisces. It has the traditional name Alrescha , from the Arabic الرشآء al-rišā’ "the well rope". Less common names are Kaitain and Okda, the latter from the Arabic عقدة ‘uqdah "knot".The distance to α Psc is about 139 light years... |
Ar-Risha' | The rope | الرشاء |
| Rukbah Delta Cassiopeiae Delta Cassiopeiae is a star in the constellation Cassiopeia. It has the traditional names Ksora and Ruchbah, derived from the Arabic word ركبة rukbah meaning "knee"... |
Ar-Rukbah | The knee | الركبة |
| Rukbat | Ar-Rukbah | The knee | ركبة الرامي |
S
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabik | As-Sabiq | The preceding | سابق |
| Sadachbia | Sa'd al-Akhbiyah | Lucky star of the tents | سعد الاخبية |
| Sadalbari | Sa'd al-Bari' | Lucky star of the excellent one | سعد بارع |
| Sadalmelik | Sa'd al-Malik | Lucky star of the king | سعد الملك |
| Sadalsuud | Sa'd as-Su'ud | Luck of lucks | سعد السعود |
| Sadr Gamma Cygni Gamma Cygni is a star in the constellation Cygnus. It has the traditional name Sadr .... |
As-Sadr | The breast | الصدر |
| Saiph | As-Saif | The sword | سيف |
| Scheat | As-Sa'id | The shoulder | الساعد |
| Shaula | Ash-Shaulah | The raised tail of the scorpion | الشولة |
| Shedir | As-Sadr | The breast | الصدر |
| Sheliak | Alshelaiyak | - | الشلياق |
| Sheratan | Ash-Sharatan | The two signs | الشرطان |
| Sirrah Alpha Andromedae Alpha Andromedae , which has the traditional names Alpheratz and Sirrah , is the brightest star in the constellation of Andromeda. Located immediately northeast of the constellation of Pegasus, it is the northeastern star of the Great Square of Pegasus... |
Surrat al-Faras | Belly-button of the female horse | سرة الفرس |
| Skat Delta Aquarii Delta Aquarii is the third-brightest star in the constellation Aquarius. It has the traditional name Skat, which has also been used for Beta Pegasi.... |
As-Saq | The leg | الساق |
| Sulafat | As-Sulhafat | The tortoise | السلحفاة |
T
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tania Australis | Ath-Thaniyah | The southern one of "the second" leap | القفزة الثّانية |
| Tania Borealis | Ath-Thaniyah | The northern one of "the second" leap | القفزة الثّانية |
| Talitha Australis | Athalitha | The southern one of the third leap | القفزة الثّالثة |
| Talitha Borealis | Ath-Thalithah | The northern one of the third leap | القفزة الثّالثة |
| Tarf | At-Tarf | "The glance" of the lion | الطرف |
| Thuban Thuban Thuban also known by its Bayer designation Alpha Draconis is a star in the constellation of Draco. A relatively inconspicuous star in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere, it is historically significant as having been the north pole star in ancient times... |
Ath-Thu'ban | The snake | الثعبان |
| Thuraya Thuraya Thuraya , the Arabic name of the Pleiades, is a regional satellite phone provider. Its coverage area is most of Europe, the Middle East, North, Central and East Africa, Asia and Australia.... |
The Pleiades |
U
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unukalhai | 'Unuq al-Hayyah | Neck of the snake | عنق الحية |
V
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vega Vega Vega is the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, the fifth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus... |
Al-Waqi' | "The stooping" eagle | النسر الواقع |
W
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasat Delta Geminorum Delta Geminorum is a star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional name Wasat. The traditional name comes from the Arabic word for "middle".... |
Wasat as-Sama' | "Middle" of the sky | وسط |
| Wazn Wazn Rhythm in Arabian music is analysed by means of rhythmic units called awzan and iqa'at.-Wazn and Iqa':A rhythmic pattern or cycle in Arabian music is called a "wazn" , literally a "measure", also called darb, mizan, and usul as is in Ottoman classical music)... |
Al-Wazn | The weight | الوزن |
| Wezen | Al-Wazn | The weight | الوزن |
Y
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yed Prior | Al-Yad | The preceding one of the Snake Man's hand | مقدّم يدالحوّاء |
| Yed Posterior | Al-Yad | The succeeding one of the Snake Man's hand | مؤخّر يدالحوّاء |
Z
| Common name | Arabic name (transliteration) | Meaning | Arabic name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zaniah | Az-Zawiyah | The angle | الزاوية |
| Zaurac | Az-Zawraq | The boat | زورق |
| Zavijava | Zawiyat al-'Awwa' | The angle of al awa | زاوية العواء |
| 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 Milky Way The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky... |
Kahkashan | is the Persian Persian language Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence... word for the Milky Way |
|
| Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Andromeda. It is also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224, and is often referred to as the Great Andromeda Nebula in older texts. Andromeda is the nearest spiral galaxy to the... |
"small cloud" | "little cloud" was the Arabic name for the modern Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Andromeda. It is also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224, and is often referred to as the Great Andromeda Nebula in older texts. Andromeda is the nearest spiral galaxy to the... , which was first discovered by Al-Sufi, and mentioned in his Book of Fixed Stars Book of Fixed Stars The Book of Fixed Stars is an astronomical text written by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi around 964. The book was written in Arabic, although the author himself was Persian... |
See also
- Islamic astronomyIslamic astronomyIslamic astronomy or Arabic astronomy comprises the astronomical developments made in the Islamic world, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age , and mostly written in the Arabic language. These developments mostly took place in the Middle East, Central Asia, Al-Andalus, and North Africa, and...
- List of traditional star names
- List of proper names of stars
External links
- ICOP: Arabic Star Names
- Kaler, James, "Star Names: Proper Names", University of Illinois
- The Astronomy Corner: Reference – Star Names v1.1.2 (2006-05-28)
- Lebling, Robert W., "Arabic in the Sky", Saudi Aramco WorldSaudi Aramco WorldSaudi Aramco World is a bi-monthly magazine published by Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia. In 2004, the magazine's website was awarded "Best Magazine Website" by the Web Marketing Association...
magazine, September/October 2010, v.61, n.5