"Alnitak Alnitak, designated Zeta Orionis (ζ Orionis, abbreviated Zeta Ori, ζ Ori) and 50 Orionis (50 Ori), is a multiple star several hundred parsecs from the Sun in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the three main stars of Orion's Belt along with Alnilam and Mintaka. The primary star is a hot blue supergiant with an absolute magnitude of -6.0 and is the brightest class O star in the night sky with a visual magnitude of +2.0. It has two bluish 4th magnitude companions, one finely resolved and one only detected interferometrically and spectroscopically, producing a combined magnitude"
"binary, comprising Alnitak Aa (a blue supergiant of spectral type O9.7 Ibe and an apparent magnitude of 2.0) and Alnitak Ab (a blue dwarf of spectral type O9V and an apparent magnitude of about 4). Alnitak Aa is estimated as being up to 28 times as massive as the Sun, and to have a diameter 20 times greater. It is the brightest star of class O in the night sky. Alnilam (ε Orionis) is a supergiant, approximately 1,340 light-years away from Earth and magnitude 1.70. It is the 29th-brightest star in the sky and the fourth-brightest in Orion. It is"
"sky during the month of January around 9:00 pm, when it is approximately around the local meridian. Just southwest of Alnitak lies Sigma Orionis, a multiple star system composed of five stars that have a combined apparent magnitude of 3.7 and lying 1150 light years distant. Southwest of Mintaka lies the quadruple star Eta Orionis. Orion's Sword contains the Orion Nebula, the Messier 43 nebula, the Running Man Nebula, and the stars Theta Orionis, Iota Orionis, and 42 Orionis. Three stars compose a small triangle that marks the head. The apex is marked by Meissa (Lambda Orionis), a hot blue"
"The Alnitak system is bathed in the nebulosity of IC 434. ζ Orionis (Latinised as ""Zeta Orionis"") is the star's Bayer designation and ""50 Orionis"" its Flamsteed designation. The traditional name ""Alnitak"", alternately spelled Al Nitak or Alnitah, is taken from the Arabic النطاق ""an-niṭāq"", ""the girdle"". In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included ""Alnitak"" for this star. It is now so"
"so, the three would correspond to two stars at the base of Orion, Rigel and Saiph, and another, Alnitak at the tip of the ""belt"" of the imagined hunter, the vertices of a nearly perfect equilateral triangle with Orion's Sword (including the Orion Nebula) in the middle of the triangle seen as the smudge of smoke from copal incense in a modern myth, or, in (the translation it suggests of) an ancient one, the literal or figurative embers of a fiery creation. Neither Ptolemy's ""Almagest"" nor Al Sufi's ""Book of Fixed Stars"" noted this nebula, even though they both listed"
"designations to 27 stars now named Alpha to Omega Fornacis, labelling two stars 3.5 degrees apart as Gamma, three stars Eta, two stars Iota, two Lambda and three Chi. Phi Fornacis was added by Gould, and Theta and Omicron were dropped by Gould and Baily respectively. Upsilon, too, was later found to be two stars and designated as such. Overall, there are 59 stars within the constellation's borders brighter than or equal to apparent magnitude 6.5. However, there are no stars brighter than the fourth magnitude. The three brightest stars form a flattish triangle, with Alpha (also called Dalim) and"
"[Red Horn, Blue Horn, the Twins] as possibly stellar figures but to allow them to remain without a celestial name, insofar as ethnoastronomy is concerned.” Nevertheless, the very end of our story identifies Red Horn, in his form as Wears Faces on His Ears, as a ""fixed"" star, probably Alnilam of Orion. ""The one star that is shining most greatly of the trio, it is he. The greatly shining white one, and the blue one, and the red one; and ""Icohorúšika"" was the yellowish one. And the other ones, his older brothers, are also stars. They are the trio that"
"""Makalii"". The stars of Auriga feature in Inuit constellations. Quturjuuk, meaning ""collar-bones"", was a constellation that included Capella (Alpha Aurigae), Menkalinan (Beta Aurigae), Pollux (Beta Geminorum), and Castor (Alpha Geminorum). Its rising signalled that the constellation Aagjuuk, made up of Altair (Alpha Aquilae), Tarazed (Gamma Aquilae), and sometimes Alshain (Beta Aquilae), would rise soon. Aagjuuk, which represented the dawn following the winter solstice, was an incredibly important constellation in the Inuit mythos. It was also used for navigation and time-keeping at night. Alpha Aurigae (Capella), the brightest star in Auriga, is a G8III class star (G-type giant) 43 light-years away"
"Alpha Phoenicis Alpha Phoenicis (α Phoenicis, abbreviated Alpha Phe or α Phe), also named Ankaa, is the brightest star in the constellation of Phoenix. ""Alpha Phoenicis"" is the star's Bayer designation. It also bore the traditional name Ankaa sometime after 1800, from the Arabic العنقاء ""al-ʿanqā’"" ""the phoenix"" for the name of the constellation. Medieval Arab astronomers formed the constellation of the dhow (where Phoenix is), so another popular name for the star is ""Nair al Zaurak"" from نائر الزوق ""na’ir az-zawraq"" ""the bright (star) of the skiff"". The Latin translation is ""Cymbae,"" from ""lūcida cumbae"". In 2016, the International"
"Bellatrix was also called the Amazon Star, which Richard Hinckley Allen proposed came from a loose translation of the Arabic name ""Al Najīd"", the Conqueror. A c.1275 Arabic celestial globe records the name as المرزم ""the lion"". Bellatrix is one of the four navigational stars in Orion that are used for celestial navigation. In Chinese, (), meaning ""Three Stars (asterism)"", refers to an asterism consisting of Bellatrix, Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka, Betelgeuse, Saiph and Rigel. Consequently, Bellatrix are known as (, ). In the 17th century catalogue of stars in the ""Calendarium"" of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, this star was designated"
"magnitude 1.64 to 1.74. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. It is also one of the 58 stars used in celestial navigation. It is at its highest point in the sky around midnight on December 15. Alnilam's relatively simple spectrum has made it useful for studying the interstellar medium. Within the next million years, this star may turn into a red supergiant and explode as a supernova. It is surrounded by a molecular cloud, NGC 1990, which it illuminates to make a reflection nebula."
"Alpha Gruis Alpha Gruis, Latinized from α Gruis, also named Alnair, is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Grus. ""α Gruis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Gruis"") is the star's Bayer designation. (Its first depiction in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer's ""Uranometria"" of 1603.) It bore the traditional name ""Alnair"" or ""Al Nair"" (sometimes ""Al Na'ir"" in lists of stars used by navigators), from the Arabic ""al-nayyir"" <nowiki>[</nowiki>an-nai:r<nowiki>]</nowiki>, meaning ""the bright one"", itself derived from its Arabic name, ""al-Nayyir min Dhanab al-ḥūt (al-Janūbiyy)"", ""the Bright (star) belongs to the Tail of (the constellation of) the (Southern) Fish"". Confusingly,"
"Orionis (Alnilam), and Delta Orionis (Mintaka). However, this is no longer believed to be the case, as Bellatrix is now known to be much closer than the rest of the group. It is not known to have a stellar companion, although researchers Maria-Fernanda Nieva and Norbert Przybilla raised the possibility it might be a spectroscopic binary. A 2011 search for nearby companions failed to conclusively find any objects that share a proper motion with Bellatrix. Three nearby candidates were all found to be background stars. Bellatrix has been used as both a photometric and spectral standard star, but both characteristics"
"this position, Alnilam and Mintaka would appear to be on top of each other, only 15 arcminutes apart, thus reducing the belt to two stars. Also Bellatrix would be much closer to the belt, making the ""chest"" somewhat smaller. In May 2017, glints of light from Earth, seen as twinkling from an orbiting satellite a million miles away, were found to be reflected light from ice crystals in the atmosphere. The technology used to determine this may be useful in studying the atmospheres of distant worlds, including those of exoplanets. Extraterrestrial skies In astronomy, an extraterrestrial sky is a view"
"our Sun. The other five suns are minor in comparison, but provide enough light to prevent the inhabitants of Kalgash from defining ""night"". The only other distance given is that Tano and Sitha form a binary star system about 11 times as far away as Onos. From what can be drawn from the text, Onos, the star appearing brightest and largest in Kalgash's sky, is the star that Kalgash orbits. Onos, in turn, orbits around the binary system Trey and Patru, the other binary system Tano and Sitha, and the red dwarf star Dovim. In addition to these stars, the"
"blue sub-giant of spectral type B1IV with an absolute magnitude of -3.9 and an apparent magnitude of 4.3, discovered in 1998.). Aa is estimated as being up to 33 times as massive as the Sun and to have a diameter 20 times greater. It is some 21,000 times brighter than the sun, with a surface brightness (luminance) some 500 times greater. It is the brightest star of class O in the night sky. A fourth star, 9th magnitude Alnitak C, has not been confirmed to be part of the Aa-Ab-B group, and may simply lie along the line of sight."
"Alpha Fornacis Alpha Fornacis (α Fornacis, abbreviated Alpha For, α For), also designated 12 Eridani, is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Fornax. It is the brightest star in the constellation and the only one brighter than magnitude 4.0. Based on parallax measurements obtained during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 46 light-years (14 parsecs) distant from the Sun. Its two components are designated Alpha Fornacis A (also named Dalim) and B. ""α Fornacis"" (Latinised to ""Alpha Fornacis"") is the system's Bayer designation, ""12 Eridani"" its Flamsteed designation. The designations of the two components as ""Alpha Fornacis"
"المیسان ""Al Maisan"", 'the shining one.' ""Al Hanʽah"" was the name of star association consisting of this star, along with Mu Geminorum (Tejat Posterior), Nu Geminorum, Eta Geminorum (Tejat Prior) and Xi Geminorum (Alzirr). They also were associated in ""Al Nuḥātai"", the dual form of ""Al Nuḥāt"", 'a Camel's Hump'. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included ""Alhena"" for this star. In"
"point of the spectral classification sequence for supergiants. However the details of the spectrum vary considerably owing to periodic atmospheric eruptions. The spectral lines show emission, absorption, line doubling, P Cygni profiles, and inverse P Cygni profiles, with no obvious periodicity. This has resulted in classification as B8 Iab, B8 Iae, or blendings by different authors. In ancient Egypt, Rigel's name was S29-Aa17-V28-D61-N14:N35Seba-en-Sah ""Sb3-n-S3ḥ"", which means ""toe star"" or ""foot star"". Rigel is presumably the star known as ""Aurvandil's toe"" in Norse mythology. In Chinese, (), meaning ""Three Stars (asterism)"", refers to an asterism consisting of Rigel, Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka,"
"2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name ""Albali"" for this star on 12 September 2016, and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names. In the catalogue of stars in the ""Calendarium"" of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, it was designated ""Nir Saad Bula"" (نير سعد ألبلع ""nayyir sa'd al bulaʽ""), which was translated into Latin as ""Lucida Fortunæ Dissipantis"", meaning ""the brightest of luck of the swallower"". In Chinese, (), meaning ""Girl (asterism)"", refers to an asterism"
"depicted Perseus holding the disembodied head of Medusa, whose asterism was named together as ""Perseus et Caput Medusae"", however, this never came into popular usage. The galactic plane of the Milky Way passes through Perseus, whose brightest star is the yellow-white supergiant Alpha Persei (also called Mirfak or Mirphak), which shines at magnitude 1.79. It and many of the surrounding stars are members of an open cluster known as the Alpha Persei Cluster. The best-known star, however, is Algol (Beta Persei), linked with ominous legends because of its variability, which is noticeable to the naked eye. Rather than being an"
"the future. Although there is mention of the Royal Stars influencing the ancient Egyptians in roughly 5,000 BCE, they were noted when the ancient Persian prophet Zarathustra mentioned them in the Bundahishn, the collection of Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology, in approximately 1,500 BCE. The four stars with their modern names, and their ancient Persian names (in brackets) were: The four dominant stars have an apparent magnitude–1.5 or brighter. The reason why they are called ""Royal"" is that they appear to stand aside from the other stars in the sky. The four stars, Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares, Fomalhaut, are the brightest stars"
"names approved by the WGSN; which included ""Saiph"" for this star. It is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names. In the 17th century catalogue of stars in the ""Calendarium"" of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, this star was designated ""Rekbah al Jauza al Yemeniat"", which was translated into Latin as ""Genu Dextrum Gigantis"" ""right knee of the giant"". In Chinese, (), meaning ""Three Stars (asterism)"", refers to an asterism consisting of Saiph, Alnitak, Alnilam, Mintaka, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix and Rigel. Consequently, Saiph are known as (, ). Saiph has a stellar classification of B0.5 Ia. The luminosity class"
"and the people of Pukapuka called Altair ""Turu"" and used it as a navigational star. The Māori people named Altair ""Poutu-te-rangi"", ""Pillar of the Sky"", because of its important position in their cosmology. It was used differently in different Māori calendars, being the star of February and March in one version and March and April in the other. Altair was also the star that ruled the annual sweet potato harvest. Two United States Navy ships, USS"" Aquila"" (AK-47) and USS ""Aquila"" (PHM-4), are named after the constellation. Aquila (constellation) Aquila is a constellation on the celestial equator. Its name is"
"dim to warrant their letters. A different star was subsequently labelled Psi Phoenicis, while the other two designations fell out of use. Ankaa is the brightest star in the constellation. It is an orange giant of apparent visual magnitude 2.37 and spectral type K0.5IIIb, 77 light years distant from Earth and orbited by a secondary object about which little is known. Lying close by Ankaa is Kappa Phoenicis, a main sequence star of spectral type A5IVn and apparent magnitude 3.90. Located centrally in the asterism, Beta Phoenicis is the second brightest star in the constellation and another binary star. Together"
"notably Deneb Kaitos, the brightest star in the constellation of Cetus; Deneb Algedi, the brightest star in Capricornus; and Denebola, the second brightest star in Leo. All these stars are referring to the tail of the animals that their respective constellations represent. ""Denebadigege"" was used in the ""Alfonsine Tables"", other variants include ""Deneb Adige"", ""Denebedigege"" and ""Arided"". This latter name was derived from ""Al Ridhādh"", a name for the constellation. Johann Bayer called it ""Arrioph"", derived from ""Aridf"" and ""Al Ridf"", 'the hindmost' or ""Gallina"". German poet and author Philippus Caesius termed it ""Os rosae"", or ""Rosemund"" in German, or"
"""Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars"", ""Al Mizān"" were the title for three stars :δ Aql as ""Al Mizān I"", η Aql as ""Al Mizān II"" and θ Aql as ""Al Mizān III"". This star, together with η Aql, δ Aql, ι Aql, κ Aql and λ Aql were consist Antinous, the obsolete constellation. Theta Aquilae Theta Aquilae (θ Aql, θ Aquilae) is a binary star in the constellation Aquila. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the pair is 3.26, making it the fourth-brightest member of the constellation. In Chinese, it has the traditional"
"bright stars. These include Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris), the brightest star in the night sky, as well as three other stars above magnitude 2.0. Furthermore, two other stars are thought to have previously outshone all others in the night sky—Adhara (Epsilon Canis Majoris) shone at -3.99 around 4.7 million years ago, and Mirzam (Beta Canis Majoris) peaked at −3.65 around 4.42 million years ago. Another, NR Canis Majoris, will be brightest at magnitude −0.88 in about 2.87 million years' time. The German cartographer Johann Bayer used the Greek letters Alpha through Omicron to label the most prominent stars in the"
"al Wārida"", the name of the asterism consisting of this star, Delta Sagittarii, Epsilon Sagittarii and Eta Sagittarii. This ostrich was thought of as going down to the river (the Milky Way) to drink, and another ostrich (σ, φ, τ, and ζ, ""al Sadira"") was thought of as coming back up. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name ""Alnasl"" for this star on 21 August 2016 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names. Gamma²"
"star groups are Triangulum (called Lami by Borana), Pleiades (called Busan by Borana), Aldebaran (called Bakkalcha by Borana), Bellatrix (called Algajima by Borana), central Orion (called Arb Gaddu by Borana), Saiph (called Urji Walla by Borana), and Sirius (called Basa by Borana) star systems. The first day of the new year in Borana calendar starts in the month of ""Bittootessa"" and the day name ""Bitta Kara"". This is when Triangulum is in conjunction with the new moon. After that, the calendar simply counts the day names through the month based on that first astronomical observation - conjunction of the new"
"and the sixth-brightest star in the night sky at magnitude 0.08. Its traditional name is a reference to its mythological position as Amalthea; it is sometimes called the ""Goat Star"". Capella's names all point to this mythology. In Arabic, Capella was called ""al-'Ayyuq"", meaning ""the goat"", and in Sumerian, it was called mul.ÁŠ.KAR, ""the goat star"". On Ontong Java, Capella was called ""ngahalapolu"". Capella is a spectroscopic binary with a period of 104 days; the components are both yellow giants, more specifically, the primary is a G-type star and the secondary is between a G-type and F-type star in its"
"in their constellations and among the 25–brightest stars in the night sky. The Persians considered these stars to be the four guardians of the heavens. They marked the seasonal changes and marked the equinoxes and solstices. Aldebaran watched the Eastern sky and was the dominant star in the Taurus constellation, Regulus watched the North and was the dominant star in the Leo constellation, Antares watched the West and was the alpha star in Scorpio, and Fomalhaut watched the Southern sky and was the brightest star in Piscis Austrinus (sharing the same longitude with the star Sadalmelik which is the predominant"
"Mouakket"", this star was designated ""Lisan al Shudja"", which was translated into Latin as ""Lingua Hydri"", meaning ""the snake's tongue"". This star, along with ε Hya, ζ Hya, η Hya, ρ Hya and σ Hya (Minhar al Shija), were Ulugh Beg's ""Min al Azʽal"", ""Belonging to the Uninhabited Spot"". According to the catalogue of stars in the ""Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars"", ""Min al Azʽal"" or ""Minazal"" were the title for five stars :δ Hya as ""Minazal I"", η Hya as ""Minazal II"", ε Hya as ""Minazal III"", ρ Hya as ""Minazal IV"""