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List of Arabic star names

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


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 "Another River"

Achernar

Akhir an-Nahr

End of the river "Another River"

Acrab

Al-'Aqrab

The scorpion

Acubens

Az-Zubana

The claw

Adhafera

Ad-Dafirah

The curl "Plexus"

Adhara

Al-'Adhara

The maidens "Virgins"

Adib

Al-dhib

The wolf

Adhil

Al-Dhayl

The tail

Ain

'Ain

the "eye" of the Bull "Eye"

Albali

Al-Bali'

The swallower

Alchibah

Al-Khiba'

The tent

Aldebaran

Al-Dabaran

"The follower" of the Pleiades

Alderamin

Adh-Dhira' al-Yamin

The right arm

Alfirk

Al-Firq

The flock "Difference"

Algedi

Al-Jady

The goat "Capricorn"

Algenib

Al-Janb

The flank "Side"

List of Arabic star names

Algieba

Al-Jabhah

"The forehead" of the lion "Front"

Algebar

Al-Jabbar

The giant

Algol

Al-Ghul

The ghoul

Algorab

Al-Ghurab

The raven

Alhena

Al-Han'ah

The mark of the brand

Alioth

Al-Jawn

The black horse "John"

Alkaid

Al-Qa'id

"The leader" of the mourning maidens "Commander"

Alkes

Al-Ka's

The cup

Almak

'Anaq al-Ard

The caracal "Hug the Ground"

Almeisan

Al-Maisan

The shining one "Libration"

Alnair

An-Nayyir

The bright one "Yoke"

Alnilam

An-Nidham

The string of pearls "Systems"

Alnitak

An-Nitaq

The belt "Scale"

Alnasl

Al-nasl

The arrowhead "Blade"

Alphard

Al-Fard

The solitary one "Individual"

Alphecca

Al-Fakkah

"The broken" ring of stars "Humorous"

Alpheratz

Surrat al-Faras

The navel of the stallion "Navel Persians"

Alrescha

Al-Risha'

The ropes

Alsafi

Al-Athafi

The tripods for cooking on Sigma "Andiron"

Alsuhail

Suhail

Untranslatable

Altair

(Al-Nasr) At-Ta'ir

the flying (eagle)

Altais

At-Tais

The great serpent "Goat"

Alterf

At-Tarf

"The glance" of the lion "Party"

Aludra

Al-'Udhrah

The maidenhead "Faces"

Alula Australis, Alula Borealis (Al-Qafzah) al-Ula

the first (leap)

Alya

Al-Alyah

The fatty tail of a sheep "Mechanism"

Angetenar

'Arjat an-Nahr

Curve of the river "Winding River"

Ankaa

Al-'Anka'

Phoenix

Arkab

Al-'Urqub

The heel-tendon "Achilles"

Arneb

Al-Arnab

The hare

Arrakis

Ar-Raqis

The dancer

Atik

Al-'Atiq

"The shoulder" of the Pleiades "Responsibility Chandelier"

Auva

Al-'Awwa'

The barker "Howl"

Azha

Al-Udhi

The hatching-place

List of Arabic star names

B
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Baham

Al-Biham

The livestock

Baten Kaitos

Batn Qaytus

Belly of Cetus

Beid

Al-Baid

The eggs

Benetnash

Banat Na'sh

Daughters of the bier

Betelgeuse

Ibet al-Jauza'

Armpit of the Central One

Botein

Al-Butayn

The little belly

C
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Caph

Al-Kaff

"The palm" of the Pleiades

Celbalrai

Kalb ar-Ra'i

The shepherd's dog

Chort

Al-Kharat

The rib

Cursa

Al-Kursi

The chair

D
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Dabih

Sa'd adh-dhabih

The lucky star of "the slaughterer"

Deneb

Dhanab ad-Dajajah

Tail of the fowl

Deneb Dulfim

Dhanab ad-Dulfin

Tail of the Dolphin

Deneb Algedi

Dhanab al-Jady

Tail of the goat

Deneb Kaitos

Dhanab Qaytus

Tail of Cetus

Denebola

Dhanab al-Asad

Tail of the lion

Diphda

Ad-Difda' Al-awwal

The first frog

Dschubba

Al-Jabhah

"The forehead" of the scorpion

Dubhe

Kahil Ad-Dubb

The back of the bear

Dziban

Adh-Dhi'ban

The two wolves

List of Arabic star names

Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Edasich

Adh-Dhikh

The hyena

El Nath

An-Nath

The butting

Eltanin

At-Tinnin

The great serpent

Enif

Al-Anf

The nose

Errai

Ar-Ra'i

The shepherd

F
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Fomalhaut

Fam al-Hut

Mouth of the whale

Furud

Al-Furud

"Individual" stars

G
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Gienah

Al-Janah

The wing

Gomeisa

Al-Ghumaisa'

The bleary-eyed one

H
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Hadar

Hadar

Civilization

Hamal

Al-Hamal

The ram

Heka

Al-Haq'ah

The white spot

Homam

Sa'd al-humam

The lucky star of "the high-minded

I
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)
Izar

Al-Izar

Meaning

Arabic name

The girdle, or, The loin-cloth

J
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)
Jabbah

Al-Jabhah

Meaning

Arabic name

"The forehead" of the scorpion

List of Arabic star names

K
Common name

Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Kabdhilinan

Qabd Al-E'nan

The rein hold

Kaffaljidhma

Al-Kaff al-Jadhma'

The cut-short hand

Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Kaus Media Al-Qaus

the bow

Keid

Al-Qaid

The broken egg-shells

Kitalpha

Qit'at al-Faras

Part of the horse

Kochab

Al-Kaukab

Planet

Kurhah

Al-Qurhah

"The blaze" on a horse's brow

L
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Lesath

Al-Las'ah

The sting

Luh-Denebola

dhanab al-asad

the lion's tail

M
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Maasym

Al-Mi'sam

The wrist

Maaz

Al-Ma'z

The he-goat

Marfik

Al-Mirfaq

The elbow

Markab

Mankib al-Faras

"The shoulder" of the horse

Matar

Sa'd Matar

The lucky star of "the rain"

Mebsuta

Al-Mabsutah

"The outstretched" paw

Megrez

Al-Maghriz

"The insertion-point" of the Bear's

Meissa

Al-Maisan

The shining one

Mekbuda

Al-Maqbudah

"The pulled-in" paw

Menkalinan

Mankib Dhi-al-'Inan

Shoulder of the rein-holder

Menkar

Al-Minkhar

The nostril

Menkib

Al-Mankib

"The shoulder" of the Pleiades

Merak

Al-Maraqq

The loins

Mintaka

Al-Mintaqah

The belt

Mirak

Al-Mi'zar

The loin-cloth

Mirfak

Al-Mirfaq

"The elbow" of the Pleiades

Mizar

mizar

apron

Mothallah

Al-Muthallath

The triangle

Muphrid

Al-Mufrid

The solitary one

Murzim

Al-Murzim

The roarer

List of Arabic star names

N
Common name

Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Nashira

Sa'd Nashirah

The lucky star of Nashirah

Nekkar

Al-Baqqar

The cattleman

Gamma Sagittarii An-Nasl

The arrowhead

Nihal

An-Nihal

The camels quenching their thirst

Nusakan

An-Nasaqan

The two series

O
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Okda

Al-'Uqdah

The knot

P
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name
Phact

Al-Fakhitah

The dove

Phad

Al-Fakhidh

The thigh

Pherkad

Al-Farqad

The calf

R
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Rasalased

Ra's al-Asad

Head of the lion

Rasalgethi

Ra's al-Jathi

Head of the kneeling one

Rasalhague

Ra's al-Hawwa'

Head of the snake-man

Rastaban

Ra's ath-Thu'ban

Head of the snake

Rigel

Ar-Rijl

The foot

Rigilkent

Rijl Qanturus

Foot of the centaur

Risha

Ar-Risha'

The rope

Rukbah

Ar-Rukbah

The knee

Rukbat

Ar-Rukbah

The knee

List of Arabic star names

S
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Sabik

As-Sabiq

The preceding

Sadachbia

Sa'd al-Akhbiyah

Lucky star of the tents

Sadalbari

Sa'd al-Bari'

Lucky star of the excellent one

Sadalmelik

Sa'd al-Malik

Lucky star of the king

Sadalsuud

Sa'd as-Su'ud

Luck of lucks

Sadr

As-Sadr

The breast

Saiph

As-Saif

The sword

Scheat

As-Sa'id

The shoulder

Shaula

Ash-Shaulah

The raised tail of the scorpion

Shedir

As-Sadr

The breast

Sheliak

Alshelaiyak

Sheratan

Ash-Sharatan

The two signs

Sirrah

Surrat al-Faras

Belly-button of the female horse

Skat

As-Saq

The leg

Sulafat

As-Sulhafat

The tortoise

T
Common name

Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

the second (leap)

Talitha Australis, Talitha Borealis Ath-Thalithah

the third (leap)

Tarf

At-Tarf

"The glance" of the lion

Thuban

Ath-Thu'ban

The snake

Pleiades

Ath-Thuraya

The height and brightness

Tania Australis, Tania Borealis

Ath-Thaniyah

U
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)
Unukalhai

'Unuq al-Hayyah

Meaning

Arabic name

Neck of the snake

V
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)
Vega

Al-Waqi'

Meaning

Arabic name

"The stooping" eagle

List of Arabic star names

W
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Wasat

Wasat as-Sama'

"Middle" of the sky

Beta Columbae

Al-Wazn

The weight

Wezen

Al-Wazn

The weight

Y
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Yed Prior

Al-Yad

The preceding one of the Snake Man's hand

Yed Posterior

Al-Yad

The succeeding one of the Snake Man's hand

Z
Common name Arabic name (transliteration)

Meaning

Arabic name

Zaniah

Az-Zawiyah

The angle

Zaurac

Az-Zawraq

The boat

Zavijava

Zawiyat al-'Awwa'

The angle of al awa

Zubenelgenubi

Az-Zuban al-Janubi

"Southern Claw"

Zubeneshamali

Az-Zuban ash-Shamali

"Northern Claw"

Others
Common name

Arabic name
(transliteration)

Milky Way

Darb Al-Tabanah

Andromeda
Galaxy

"small cloud"

[3][4]

Meaning

The Milky Road

Arabic
name

"little cloud" was the Arabic name for the Andromeda Galaxy, which was first
mentioned by Al-Sufi in his Book of Fixed Stars

References
[1] "Stargazing Network" (http:/ / www. stargazing. net/ david/ constel/ starnames. html). Stargazing.net. . Retrieved 2011-10-05.
[2] "Star Names: Where Do They Come From? And Can You Buy One?" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20070928043446/ http:/ / www. rmsc.
org/ planetarium/ qandi/ snames. htm), RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996, (archived 2007)
[3] Henbest, N.; Couper, H. (1994). The guide to the galaxy (http:/ / books. google. com/ ?id=-TI4AAAAIAAJ& pg=PA31& dq& q=). p.31.
ISBN0-521-45882-X. .
[4] Kepple, G. R.; Sanner, G. W. (1998). The Night Sky Observer's Guide. Vol. 1. Willmann-Bell. p.18. ISBN0-943396-58-1.

Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP) website (http://www.icoproject.org/star.html), which in turn


cites

Paul Kunitzch, Tim Smart, Short Guide to Modern Star Names and Their Derivations (1986);
Guy Ottewell, The Astronomical Companion;
Abdul-Rahim Bader, Rasd al-Sama' ("Observing the Sky");
Hamid Al-Naimy Elm al-Falak ("Astronomy").

List of Arabic star names

External links
ICOP: Arabic Star Names (http://www.icoproject.org/star.html)
Prof. Mustafa Pultar's Yldz Adlar Szl (http://www.pultar.org/mustafa/YAS/) (Dictionary of Star
Names) in Turkish.
Kaler, James, "Star Names: Proper Names" (http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/starname.html),
University of Illinois
The Astronomy Corner: Reference Star Names v1.1.2 (2006-05-28) (http://astro.isi.edu/reference/
starnames.txt)
Lebling, Robert W., "Arabic in the Sky" (http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/201005/arabic.in.the.
sky.htm), Saudi Aramco World magazine, September/October 2010, v.61, n.5

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors


List of Arabic star names Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=533116310 Contributors: Abdurahman49, Ahmedrefat, Antandrus, Boaby, Bobo192, BomBom, Braincricket,
Brandmeister, Cvkline, Cyfal, Dancowan, Danieliness, Dbachmann, Fabullus, Flying jacket, Galoubet, Hardyplants, Haruth, Hasanbay, HorsePunchKid, Hshatti, Indon, Jagged 85, Katharineamy,
Kintetsubuffalo, Kpufferfish, Kyoko, Macrakis, Mahmoudalrawi, Maniacinthejar, Mike s, Miq, Mughal Lohar, Nasa-verve, NellieBly, Odehjas, One Night In Hackney, PhilKnight, R'n'B, RJHall,
Rami radwan, Recognizance, Reinyday, Rrihan, Rursus, Sadalsuud, SamuelTheGhost, Sintaku, Sirmylesnagopaleentheda, T58197, Tamfang, Uncle Dick, Vittsadaf, WOSlinker, WikHead,
Wikiklrsc, Wiqi55, Woohookitty, ZxxZxxZ, , 87 anonymous edits

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