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B01979 Alpha Eridani (Achernar) "Achernar" is from the Arabic for "The End of the River," nearly its present position in the constellation, about 32 degrees from the south pole. --Allen $ B02243 Alpha Ursae Minoris (Polaris) "Polaris" is from the Latin for "Pole-star." It is a little over 1 degree distant from the exact pole, which lies on the straight line drawn from Polaris to Zeta Ursae Majoris, and will continue in gradual approach to the pole until about the year 2095, when it will be only 26' 30" away. --Allen $ B04041 Alpha Persei (Mirfak) "Mirfak" is from the Arabic for "The Side," its present position on the maps. Mirfak never sets in the latitude of New York City, but just touches the horizon at its lower culmination. --Allen $ B05605 Alpha Tauri (Aldebaran) "Aldebaran" is from the Arabic for "The Follower," i.e., of the Pleiades. Aldebaran is but slightly south of the ecliptic, and, lying in the moon's path, is frequently occulted, thus often showing the optical illusion of projection. It has three times the brilliancy of Polaris. --Allen $ B06410 Beta Orionis (Rigel) "Rigel" is from the Arabic for "The Left Leg." Although lettered below Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), it is usually superior to it in brightness. --Allen $ B06427 Alpha Aurigae (Capella) This star has been known as Capella, "The Little She-goat," since at least the first century B.C. With Zeta and Eta, it forms the group known as "The Kids." Capella emits 250 times as much light as our sun. Its spectrum resembles that of the sun; indeed, spectroscopists say that Capella is virtually identical with the sun in physical constitution. It is the most northern of all 1st-magnitude stars and is visible at some hour of every clear night throughout the year from the northern hemisphere. --Allen $ B06668 Gamma Orionis (Bellatrix) "Bellatrix" is from the Latin for "The Female Warrior." It marks the shoulder of Orion. --Allen $ B06681 Beta Tauri (Elnath) "Elnath" is from the Arabic for "The Butting One," because the star is located on the tip of the northern horn, 5 degrees from Zeta, similarly placed on the southern. Between Elnath and Psi Aurigae was discovered on 24 January 1892 the celebrated Nova Aurigae that occasioned much interest in the astronomical world. --Allen $ B06960 Epsilon Orionis (Alnilam) "Alnilam" is from the Arabic for "The String of Pearls." It is the central star of the belt. The celestial equator now passes through the belt. --Allen $ B07089 Zeta Orionis (Alnitak) "Alnitak" is from the Arabic for "The Girdle." It is the lowest star in the belt. The celestial equator now passes through the belt. --Allen $ B07451 Alpha Orionis (Betelgeuse) "Betelgeuse" is from the Arabic for "The Armpit of the Central One." At times, when near a minimum, Betelgeuse matches Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) in color and brightness. Its banded spectrum suggests that it might be approaching the point of extinction. It was first seen to be variable by Sir John Herschel in 1836. It is a multiple star, and Barnard discovered about it large and diffused nebulosity. It is less than 3 degrees west of the solstitial colure. --Allen $ B07543 Beta Aurigae (Menkalinan) "Menkalinan" is from the Arabic for "The Shoulder of the Rein-holder," which it marks, the solstitial colure passing it 2 degrees to the east, the star itself being about 10 degrees east of Capella (Alpha Aurigae). The discovery that it was a very close binary was made by Pickering from spectroscopic observations in 1889. The lines in the spectrum double and undouble every two days. --Allen $ B08223 Beta Canis Majoris (Mirzam) "Mirzam" is from the Arabic for "The Announcer," the idea of the applicability of this title being that this star announced the immediate rising of the still brighter Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris). It entirely disappeared in 1670 and was not again observed for 23 years, but since that time has maintained a steady luster, although faint for its lettering. It marks the top of the dog's head. --Allen $ B08302 Alpha Carinae (Canopus) Canopus is the Latinized name for the chief pilot of the fleet of Menelaus, who, on his return from the destruction of Troy, touched at Egypt, where he died and was honored by a monument, giving his name to the city and to this star, which at that time rose 7.5 degrees above that horizon. Posidonius of Alexandria about the middle of the 3rd century B.C. utilized this star in his attempt to measure a degree on the earth's surface, possibly the earliest attempt at geodetic measurement. Canopus is invisible to observers north of the 37th parallel. It is conspicuous from Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf States. --Allen $ B08633 Gamma Geminorum (Alhena) "Alhena" is from the Arabic for "brand" or "mark." --Allen $ B08833 Alpha Canis Majoris (Sirius) "Sirius" is Latinized from the Greek for "sparkling" or "scorching." It is also called "The Dog-Star." Its heliacal rising 400 years B.C. corresponded with the sun's entrance into the constellation Leo, which marked the hottest time of the year. This observation gave rise to the Romans' "dies caniculariae," the dog days, and the association of the celestial Dog and Lion with the heat of midsummer. Sirius, notwithstanding its brilliancy, is by no means the nearest star to our system, although it is among the nearest. Some are of the opinion that the apparent magnitude of Sirius is partly due to the whiteness of its tint and its greater intrinsic brilliancy and that the red stars Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, and others, would appear much brighter than now if of the same color as Sirius, rays of red light affecting the retina of the eye more slowly than those of other colors. Sirius is about 9.5 times brighter than Altair (Alpha Aquilae). The sun is about 7 billion times brighter than Sirius, but, taking distance into account, about 1/40th as bright. Certain peculiarities in the motion of Sirius led to the discovery of a comes in 1862 by Alvan G. Clark. It has a period of 51.5 years and an orbit whose diameter is between those of Uranus and Neptune, its mass being 1/3 that of Sirius and equal to that of our sun, although its light is but 1/10000 of that of its principal. --Allen $ B09188 Epsilon Canis Majoris (Adhara) "Adhara" is from the Arabic for "The Virgins," applied to this star in connection with Delta, Eta, and Omicron. --Allen $ B09443 Delta Canis Majoris (Wezen) "Wezen" is from the Arabic for "weight," as the star seems to rise with difficulty from the horizon. --Allen $ B10120 Alpha Geminorum (Castor) Castor was the horseman of The Twins, and the mortal one as being the son of Tyndareus. The star is 7 degrees north of the ecliptic, but although literally heading the constellation, is now fainter than Pollux (Beta), and astronomers generally are agreed that there has been an inversion of their brilliancy since the 16th century. The discovery that Castor is a double star was positively made in 1802 by Sir William Herschel, who coined the word "binary" now applied to this class of stars. Actually, Castor is a sextuple system, since all three visible members are also spectroscopic binaries. --Allen, Mullaney, McCall $ B10277 Alpha Canis Minoris (Procyon) "Procyon" is from the Greek for "before the dog," i.e., before Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris). Procyon has a close comes, the period of revolution of the system being about 40 years in an orbit slightly greater than that of Uranus and the combined mass being about six times that of our sun and earth, with the mass of the comes equaling that of our sun and its light being three times greater. --Allen $ B10438 Beta Geminorum (Pollux) Pollux was the pugilist of The Twins, and the immortal one as being the son of Zeus. The star lies 12 degrees north of the ecliptic, the zodiac's boundary-line running between it and Castor (Alpha Geminorum). A convenient measuring-rod, Castor and Pollux stand 4.5 degrees apart. --Allen $ B11105 Gamma Velorum (Suhail) "Suhail" is from the Arabic for "brilliant," "glorious," and "beautiful." Suhail is visible from all points south of 42 degrees of north latitude, so it is plainly visible from the latitude of Maine. --Allen $ B11463 Epsilon Carinae (Avior) Avior's actual luminosity is about 1400 times that of the sun. --Burnham $ B12069 Delta Velorum This star is about 9 degrees southeast from Suhail (Gamma Velorum), near the Vela-Carina border. This is one of the stars which seems to share the space motion of the Ursa Major stream, along with Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris) and a number of other bright stars. --Burnham $ B12764 Beta Carinae (Miaplacidus) "Miaplacidus" is from the Arabic for "the waters" and the Latin for "quiet" and "still," i.e., the still waters in which the ship Argo is resting, Carina (Latin for "keel") being a division of the earlier constellation Argo. --Allen $ B13044 Alpha Hydrae (Alphard) "Alphard" is from the Arabic for "The Solitary One in the Serpent," well describing its position in the sky. --Allen $ B13926 Alpha Leonis (Regulus) "Regulus" is from the Latin for "The Little King," from the belief that the star ruled the affairs of the heavens. Regulus's position and that of Spica (Alpha Virginis), observed by Hipparchus, when compared with the earlier records, are said to have revealed to him the phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes. Regulus is the faintest of the 1st-magnitude stars, with but 1/13 of the brightness of Sirius. It lies very close to the ecliptic and is often occulted by the sun. --Allen $ B14177 Gamma Leonis (Algieba) "Algieba" is Arabicized from the Latin for "The Lion's Mane." --Allen $ B15185 Alpha Ursae Majoris (Dubhe) "Dubhe" is from the Arabic for "The Bear." It is 5 degrees from Merak (Beta) and 10 degrees from Megrez (Delta). Being always visible from the northern hemisphere, these stars afford a ready means of accurate eye measurement of others adjacent. Dubhe and Merak, as "The Pointers," indicate the pole-star (Polaris, Alpha Ursae Minoris), about 29 degrees distant from Dubhe, and Regulus (Alpha Leonis), 45 degrees away toward the south. They are circumpolar north of about 33 degrees. --Allen $ B16952 Alpha Crucis (Acrux) "Acrux" is probably a word coined from "Alpha Crucis." Acrux lies 2 degrees east of the equinoctial colure, and, at its culmination, touches the horizon in latitude about 28 degrees, due south from Corvus. --Allen $ B17052 Gamma Crucis (Gacrux) "Gacrux" is probably a word coined from "Gamma Crucis." It is the uppermost star of the cross. --Allen $ B17374 Epsilon Ursae Majoris (Alioth) "Alioth" is of uncertain derivation, perhaps associated with the Arabic for "The White of the Eye," i.e., "intensely bright." --Allen $ B18144 Alpha Virginis (Spica) Spica signifies (from the Latin), and marks, the ear of wheat shown in the Virgin's left hand. It was to the observations of this star and of Regulus (Alpha Leonis) about 300 B.C. that after comparison with observations recorded 150 years earlier, Hipparchus was indebted for the great discovery attributed to him of the precession of the equinoxes. It lies but 2 degrees south of the ecliptic and 10 degrees south of the celestial equator. With Denebola (Beta Leonis), Arcturus (Alpha Bootis), and Cor Caroli (Alpha Canum Venaticorum), it forms the "Diamond of Virgo," 50 degrees in extent north and south. --Allen $ B18643 Eta Ursae Majoris (Alkaid) "Alkaid" is from the Arabic for "The Chief of the Mourners," as the stars Alioth (Epsilon), Mizar (Zeta), and Alkaid were known. Alkaid is 7 degrees from Mizar and 26 degrees from Dubhe (Alpha), and with Mizar it forms another pair of pointers--towards Arcturus (Alpha Bootis). It is noted as marking the radiant of one of the richest minor meteor streams, the Ursids of 10 November. --Allen $ B18971 Beta Centauri (Hadar) "Hadar" is from the Arabic for "ground," applied to this star on account of its proximity to the horizon. Hadar and Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha) are "The Southern Pointers," i.e., toward the Southern Cross. --Allen $ B19242 Alpha Bootis (Arcturus) "Arcturus" is from the Greek for "The Bear-Guard." This is the first star on record as having been observed in the daytime with the telescope (1635). It is interesting to know that the first photograph of a comet was of Donati's, near this star, in 1858. --Allen $ B19728 Alpha Centauri (Rigil Kentaurus) "Rigil Kentaurus" is from the Arabic for "The Centaur's Foot," on the toe of the right front hoof. It lies in the Milky Way, 60 degrees south of the celestial equator, culminating with Arcturus, but is invisible from north of the 29th parallel. It is of the greatest interest to astronomers, being, so far as is known, the nearest to our system of all the stars, although more than 275,000 times the distance of the earth from the sun. Were our sun removed to the distance of Alpha Centauri, it would be seen only as a point of light of the 2nd magnitude near the chair of Cassiopeia. --Allen $ B22157 Alpha Scorpii (Antares) "Antares" is from the Greek for "similar to," or "rival of," Mars, in reference to its color. Some have asserted that it was the first star observed through the telescope in the daytime, although this claim is also made for Arcturus (Alpha Bootis). Ptolemy lettered it as of the 2nd magnitude, so that in his day it may have been inferior in brilliancy to the now very much fainter Zubeneschamali (Beta Librae). It was here, 2 or 3 degrees north of Antares, that Coddington's comet was discovered in 1898, the third comet made known by the camera. --Allen $ B22558 Alpha Trianguli Australis (Atria) Alpha, Beta, and Gamma form the "Southern Triangle," with sides of 8, 8, and 6.5 degrees. It is a larger and also more nearly equilateral triangle than its northern counterpart. --Allen $ B23769 Lambda Scorpii (Shaula) "Shaula" is probably from the Arabic for "The Sting," where it lies. An imaginary line extended from Jabbah (Nu) through Shaula serves to point out the nearby clusters Messier 6 and 7 and NGC 6475, visible together in binoculars. --Allen $ B23857 Theta Scorpii (Sargas) "Sargas" is from the ancient Babylonian title. This star and Eta, 4 degrees apart, are the two southernmost stars in the curving tail of Scorpius. --Burnham $ B25100 Epsilon Sagittarii (Kaus Australis) "Kaus Australis" is "The Southern [Part of the] Bow." This is the brightest star in the constellation, located about 4.6 degrees to the south of Kaus Media (Delta). About 35' southeast is the spot where Nova V909 Sagitarii flared up in 1941, reaching a maximum magnitude of about 6.8; it is now fainter than 16.0. --Allen, Burnham $ B25466 Alpha Lyrae (Vega) "Vega" is from the Arabic for "The Falling Eagle [or Vulture]." Owing to precession, it will be the pole-star of about 11000 years hence, by far the brightest in the whole circle of successive pole-stars, 4.5 degrees from the exact pole, as it was about 15000 years ago. This was the first star submitted to the camera (1850). It lies on the western edge of the constellation figure. With all its splendor, it affords but 1/9 of the light of Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris). Still, it is supposed to be enormously larger than our sun, and proportionately very much hotter. In large refractors having a slight "blue excess" in color correction, Vega is nearly pure blue, an amazing sight. It is visible at some hour of every clear night throughout the year from the northern hemisphere. --Allen, Mullaney, McCall $ B27470 Alpha Aquilae (Altair) "Altair" is from the Arabic for "The Flying Eagle [or Vulture]." Ptolemy noted this star as of the 2nd magnitude, whence some think that it has increased in light since his day. It marks the junction of the right wing with the body. Near it appeared in A.D. 389 an object, whether a supernova or a comet is not known, said to have equalled Venus in brilliancy, which vanished after three weeks' visibility. 5 degrees to the eastward of Altair lies the radiant point of the Aquilids, the meteor stream visible from 7 June to 12 August. --Allen $ B28374 Alpha Pavonis (Peacock Star) The name "Peacock Star" honors the bird sacred to Juno. --Burnham $ B28846 Alpha Cygni (Deneb) "Deneb" is from the Arabic for "The Hen's Tail." Its proper motion toward the earth will eventually carry it past our system at about 1/100 of its present distance, making it the nearest and the brightest of the earth's neighbors. It lies so far to the north that it is visible at some hour of every clear night throughout the year in the northern hemisphere. --Allen $ B30942 Alpha Gruis (Al Na'ir) "Al Na'ir" is from the Arabic for "The Bright One." Marking the body of the bird, it is the conspicuous 2nd-magnitude star southwest from Formalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini). --Allen $ B32000 Alpha Piscis Austrini (Formalhaut) "Formalhaut" is from the Arabic for "The Fish's Mouth." It lies in about 30 degrees of south declination and so is the most southerly of all the prominent stars visible in the latitude of New York City, but it is in the zenith of Chile, the Cape of Good Hope, and South Australia. To the uninstructed observer it seems a full 1st-magnitude, perhaps from the absence of nearby stars. --Allen @ Copyright 1984, 1985, 1986 AstroSoft, Inc.