Arabic Star Names


Courtesy of Dr Moh'd Odeh (E-mail)
Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP)

Many star names are of Arabic origin, most of which were used by other nations in the past following almost the same Arabic nomenclature, and many of which have survived in modern scientific astronomical atlases. Below is a list of some of these Arabic star names and their meanings:

Proper Name Arabic Name Meaning Star
Acamar Akhir an-Nahr End of the river Theta Eri
Achernar Akhir an-Nahr End of the river Alpha Eri
Acrab Al-'Aqrab The scorpion Beta Sco
Acubens Az-Zubana The claw Alpha Cnc
Adhafera Ad-Dafirah The curl Zeta Leo
Adhara Al-'Adhara The maidens Epsilon CMa
Ain 'Ain "Eye" of the Bull Epsilon Tau
Albali Al-Bali' The swallower Epsilon Aqr
Alchibah Al-Khiba' The tent Alpha Crv
Aldebaran Ad-Dabaran "Follower" of the Pleiades Alpha Tau
Alderamin Adh-Dhira' al-Yamin ? The right forearm ? Alpha Cep
Alfirk Al-Firq The flock Beta Cep
Algedi Al-Jady The goat Alpha Cap
Algenib Al-Janb The flank Gamma Peg
Algieba Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the lion Gamma Leo
Algebar Al-Jabbar The giant Beta Ori
Algol Al-Ghul The ghoul Beta Per
Algorab Al-Ghurab The raven Delta Crv
Alhena Al-Han'ah The brand-mark Gamma Gem
Alioth Al-Jawn The black horse Epsilon UMa
Alkaid Al-Qa'id "Leader" of the mourning maidens Eta UMa
Alkes Al-Ka's The cup Alpha Crt
Almak 'Anaq al-Ard Earth-kid Gamma And
Almeisan Al-Maisan The shining one Gamma Gem
Alnair An-Nayyir The bright one Alpha Gru
Alnair An-Nayyir The bright one Zeta Cen
Alnilam An-Nidham The string of pearls Epsilon Ori
Alnitak An-Nitaq The belt Zeta Ori
Alphard Al-Fard The solitary one Alpha Hya
Alphecca Al-Fakkah "The broken" ring of stars Alpha CrB
Alpheratz Surrat al-Faras Navel of the steed Alpha And
Alsafi Al-Athafi "The tripods" for cooking on Sigma Dra
Alsuhail Suhail Un-translated Lambda Vel
Altair At-Ta'ir "The flying" eagle Alpha Aql
Altais At-Tinnin The great serpent Delta Dra
Alterf At-Tarf "The glance" of the lion Lambda Leo
Aludra Al-'Udhrah The maidenhead Eta CMa
Alula Australis Al-Qafzah al-Ula The southern one of "the first leap" Xi UMa
Alula Borealis Al-Qafzah al-Ula The northern one of "the first leap" Nu UMa
Alya Al-Alyah The fatty tail of a sheep Theta Ser
Angetenar 'Arjat an-Nahr Curve of the river Tau2 Eri
Ankaa Al-'Anka' Phoenix Alpha Phe
Arkab Al-'Urqub The heel-tendon Beta Sgr
Arneb Al-Arnab The hare Alpha Lep
Arrakis Ar-Raqis The dancer Mu Dra
Atik Al-'Atiq "The shoulder" of the Pleiades Omicron Per
Auva Al-'Awwa' The barker Delta Vir
Azha Al-Udhi The hatching-place Eta Eri
Baham Al-Biham The livestock Theta Peg
Baten Kaitos Batn Qaytus Belly of Cetus Zeta Cet
Beid Al-Baid The eggs Omicron1 Eri
Benetnash Banat Na'sh Daughters of the bier Eta UMa
Betelgeuse Yad al-Jauza' Hand of Orion Alpha Ori
Botein Al-Butain The little belly Delta Ari
Caph Al-Kaff "The palm" of the Pleiades Beta Cas
Celbalrai Kalb ar-Ra'i The shepherd's dog Beta Oph
Chort Al-Kharat The rib Theta Leo
Cursa Al-Kursi The chair Beta Eri
Dabih Sa'd adh-dhabih The lucky star of "the slaughterer" Beta Cap
Deneb Dhanab ad-Dajajah Tail of the hen Alpha Cyg
Deneb Dhanab ad-Dulfin Tail of the Dolphin Epsilon Del
Deneb Algedi Dhanab al-Jady Tail of the goat Delta Cap
Deneb Kaitos Dhanab Qaytus Tail of Cetus Beta Cet
Denebola Dhanab al-Asad Tail of the lion Beta Leo
Diphda Ad-Difdi' The frog Beta Cet
Dschubba Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the scorpion Delta Sco
Dubhe Ad-Dubb The bear Alpha UMa
Dziban Adh-Dhi'ban The two wolves Psi Dra
Edasich Adh-Dhikh The hyena Iota Dra
El Nath An-Nath The butting Beta Tau
Eltanin At-Tinnin The great serpent Gamma Dra
Enif Al-Anf The nose Epsilon Peg
Errai Ar-Ra'i The shepherd Gamma Cep
Fomalhaut Fam al-Hut Mouth of the fish Alpha PsA
Furud Al-Furud "Individual" stars Zeta CMa
Gienah Al-Janah The wing Gamma Crv
Gienah Al-Janah The wing Epsilon Cyg
Gomeisa Al-Ghumaisa' The bleary-eyed one Beta CMi
Hadar Hadar Un-translated Beta Cen
Hamal Al-Hamal The ram Alpha Ari
Heka Al-Haq'ah The white spot Lambda Ori
Homam Sa'd al-humam The lucky star of "the high-minded man" Zeta Peg
Izar Al-Izar The loin-cloth Epsilon Boo
Jabbah Al-Jabhah "The forehead" of the scorpion Nu Sco
Kaffaljidhma Al-Kaff al-Jadhma' The cut-short hand Gamma Cet
Kaus Australis Al-Qaus The southern one of "the bow" Epsilon Sgr
Kaus Borealis Al-Qaus The northern one of "the bow" Lambda Sgr
Kaus Media Al-Qaus The middle one of "the bow" Delta Sgr
Keid Al-Qaid The broken egg-shells Omicron2 Eri
Kitalpha Qit'at al-Faras Part of the horse Alpha Equ
Kokab Al-Kaukab The star Beta UMi
Kurhah Al-Qurhah "The blaze" on a horse's brow Xi Cep
Lesath Al-Las'ah The sting Upsilon Sco
Maasym Al-Mi'sam The wrist Lambda Her
Maaz Al-Ma'z The he-goat Epsilon Aur
Marfik Al-Mirfaq The elbow Lambda Oph
Markab Mankib al-Faras "The shoulder" of the horse Alpha Peg
Matar Sa'd Matar The lucky star of "the rain" Eta Peg
Mebsuta Al-Mabsutah "The outstretched" paw Epsilon Gem
Megrez Al-Maghriz "The insertion-point" of the Bear's tail Delta UMa
Meissa Al-Maisan The shining one Lambda Ori
Mekbuda Al-Maqbudah "The pulled-in" paw Zeta Gem
Menkalinan Mankib Dhi-al-'Inan Shoulder of the rein-holder Beta Aur
Menkar Al-Minkhar The nostril Alpha Cet
Menkib Al-Mankib "The shoulder" of the Pleiades Xi Per
Merak Al-Maraqq The loins Beta UMa
Mintaka Al-Mintaqah The belt Delta Ori
Mirak Al-Mi'zar The loin-cloth Beta And
Mirfak Al-Mirfaq "The elbow" of the Pleiades Alpha Per
Mizar Al-Maraqq The loins Zeta UMa
Mothallah Al-Muthallath The triangle Alpha Tri
Muphrid Al-Mufrid The solitary one Eta Boo
Murzim Al-Murzim The roarer Beta CMa
Nashira Sa'd Nashirah The lucky star of Nashirah (un-translated) Gamma Cap
Nekkar Al-Baqqar The cattleman Beta Boo
Nasl An-Nasl The arrowhead Gamma Sgr
Nihal An-Nihal The camels quenching their thirst Beta Lep
Nusakan An-Nasaqan The two series Beta CrB
Okda Al-'Uqdah The knot Alpha Psc
Phact Al-Fakhitah The dove Alpha Col
Phad Al-Fakhidh The thigh Gamma UMa
Pherkad Al-Farqad The calf Gamma UMi
Rasalased Ra's al-Asad Head of the lion Mu Leo
Rasalgethi Ra's al-Jathi Head of the kneeling one Alpha Her
Rasalhague Ra's al-Hawwa' Head of the snake-man Alpha Oph
Rastaban Ra's ath-Thu'ban Head of the snake Beta Dra
Rigel Ar-Rijl The foot Beta Ori
Rigilkent Rijl Qanturus Foot of the centaur Alpha Cen
Risha Ar-Risha' The rope Alpha Psc
Rukbah Ar-Rukbah The knee Delta Cas
Rukbat Ar-Rukbah The knee Alpha Sgr
Sabik As-Sabiq The preceding Eta Oph
Sadachbia Sa'd al-Akhbiyah Lucky star of the tents Gamma Aqr
Sadalbari Sa'd al-Bari' Lucky star of the excellent one Mu Peg
Sadalmelik Sa'd al-Malik Lucky star of the king Alpha Aqr
Sadalsuud Sa'd as-Su'ud Luck of lucks Beta Aqr
Sadr As-Sadr The breast Gamma Cyg
Saiph As-Saif The sword Kappa Ori
Scheat As-Saq The leg Beta Peg
Shaula Ash-Shaulah The raised tail of the scorpion Lambda Sco
Shedir As-Sadr The breast Alpha Cas
Sheratan Ash-Sharatan The two signs Beta Ari
Sirrah Surrat al-Faras Navel of the steed Alpha And
Skat As-Saq The leg Delta Aqr
Sulafat As-Sulahfah The tortoise Gamma Lyr
Tania Australis Ath-Thaniyah The southern one of "the second" leap Mu UMa
Tania Borealis Ath-Thaniyah The northern one of "the second" leap Lambda UMa
Talitha Australis Ath-Thalithah The southern one of "the third" leap Kappa UMa
Talitha Borealis Ath-Thalithah The northern one of "the third" leap Iota UMa
Tarf At-Tarf "The glance" of the lion Beta Cnc
Thuban Ath-Thu'ban The snake Alpha Dra
Unukalhai 'Unuq al-Hayyah Neck of the snake Alpha Ser
Vega Al-Waqi' "The stooping" eagle Alpha Lyr
Wasat Wasat as-Sama' "Middle" of the sky Delta Gem
Wazn Al-Wazn The weight Beta Col
Wezen Al-Wazn The weight Delta CMa
Yed Prior Al-Yad The preceding one of "the hand" Delta Oph
Yed Posterior Al-Yad The succeeding one of "the hand" Epsilon Oph
Zaniah Az-Zawiyah The angle Epsilon Vir
Zaurac Az-Zawraq The boat Gamma Eri
Zavijava Zawiyat al-'Awwa' Angle of the barker Beta Vir
Zubenelgenubi Az-Zuban al-Janubi The southern claw Alpha Lib
Zubeneshamali Az-Zuban ash-Shamali The northern claw Beta Lib

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