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.

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, who lived almost two thousand years ago in Alexandria, Egypt, collected ancient descriptions of 1,025 stars in a book called The Great System of Astronomy, published around the year 150 A.D. Ptolemy's book was translated into Arabic in the 8th and 9th centuries and became famous under its shortened Arabic title, the Almagest. Many of the Arabic-language star descriptions in the Almagest came to be used widely as names for stars.

Later Muslim astronomers introduced the use of observatories in the observation of the stars, and discovered many more stars, which they recorded in various Zij treatises. The most notable of these is the Book of Fixed Stars written by 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.

The following tables are taken from the Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP) website from: http://www.icoproject.org/star.html

N.B.

• The following list does not contain all documented Arabic star names
• Some stars may have more than one Arabic name
• Some star names may be composites of Arabic and Latin words

Contents

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

A

English Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Acamar	Akhir an-Nahr	End of the river	اخر النهر
Achernar	Akhir an-Nahr	End of the river	اخر النهر
Acrab	Al-'Aqrab	The scorpion	عقرب
Acubens	Az-Zubana	the claw	الزبانى
Adhafera	Ad-Dafirah	The curl	الضفيره
Adhara	Al-'Adhara	The maidens	العذارى
Adib	Al-dhi’b	The wolf	الذئب
Adhil	Al-Dhayl	The tail	الذيل
Ain	'Ain	the "eye" of the Bull	عين
Albali	Al-Bali'	The swallower	البالع
Alchibah	Al-Khiba'	The tent	الخباء
Aldebaran	Al-Dabaran	"The follower" of the Pleiades	الدبران
Alderamin	Adh-Dhira' al-Yamin	The right arm	الذراع الايمن
Alfirk	Al-Firq	The flock	الفرق
Algedi	Al-Jady	The goat	الجدي
Algenib	Al-Janb	The flank	الجنب
Algieba	Al-Jabhah	"The forehead" of the lion	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	الجون
Alkaid	Al-Qa'id	"The leader" of the mourning maidens	القائد
Alkes	Al-Ka's	The cup	الكأس
Almak	'Anaq al-Ard	The caracal	عناق الأرض
Almeisan	Al-Maisan	The shining one	الميسان
Alnair	An-Nayyir	The bright one	النّيّر
Alnilam	An-Nidham	The string of pearls	النّظم
Alnitak	An-Nitaq	The belt	النطاق
Alnasl	Al-nasl	The arrowhead	النصل
Alphard	Al-Fard	The solitary one	الفرد
Alphecca	Al-Fakkah	"The broken" ring of stars	الفكه
Alpheratz	Surrat al-Faras	The navel of the stallion	سرة الفرس
Alrescha	Al-Risha'	The ropes	الرشاء
Alsafi	Al-Athafi	The tripods for cooking on Sigma	الأثافي
Alsuhail	Suhail	Untranslatable	سهيل
Altair	Al-Nasr At-Ta'ir	"The flying" eagle	النّسر الطّائر
Altais	At-Tais	The great serpent	التيس
Alterf	At-Tarf	"The glance" of the lion	الطرف
Aludra	Al-'Udhrah	The maidenhead	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	الألية
Angetenar	'Arjat an-Nahr	Curve of the river	عرجة النهر
Ankaa	Al-'Anka'	Phoenix	العنقاء
Arkab	Al-'Urqub	The heel-tendon	العرقوب
Arneb	Al-Arnab	The hare	الأرنب
Arrakis	Ar-Raqis	The dancer	الراقص
Atik	Al-'Atiq	"The shoulder" of the Pleiades	عاتق الثّريّا
Auva	Al-'Awwa'	The barker	العوّاء
Azha	Al-Udhi	The hatching-place	اشيانة

B

English Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Baham	Al-Biham	The livestock	سعد البهام
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	Yad al-Jauza'	Hand of Orion	يد الجوزاء
Birdun	Al-Birdhaun	the packhorse	البرذون
Botein	Al-Butayn	The little belly	بطين

C

English Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Caph	Al-Kaff	"The palm" of the Pleiades	الكـــف الخضيب
Celbalrai	Kalb ar-Ra'i	The shepherd's dog	كلب الراعي
Chort	Al-Kharat	The rib	الخرت
Cursa	Al-Kursi	The chair	الكرسي

D

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Dabih	Sa'd adh-dhabih	The lucky star of "the slaughterer"	سّعد الذّابح
Deneb	Dhanab ad-Dajajah	Tail of the fowl	ذنب الدجاجة
Deneb Dulfim	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	Dhanab al-Asad	Tail of the lion	ذنب الاسد
Diphda	Ad-Difda' Al-awwal	The frog	الضّفدع الأوّل
Dschubba	Al-Jabhah	"The forehead" of the scorpion	الجبهة
Dubhe	Kahil Ad-Dubb	The back of the bear	كاهل الدّب
Dziban	Adh-Dhi'ban	The two wolves	الذئبان

E

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Fomalhaut	Fam al-Hut	Mouth of the fish	فم الحوت
Furud	Al-Furud	"Individual" stars	الفرد

G

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Gienah	Al-Janah	The wing	الجناح
Gomeisa	Al-Ghumaisa'	The bleary-eyed one	الغميصاء

H

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Hadar	Hadar	Civilization	حضار
Hamal	Al-Hamal	The ram	نيّر الحمل
Heka	Al-Haq'ah	The white spot	الهقعة
Homam	Sa'd al-humam	The lucky star of "the high-minded	سعد الهمام

I

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Izar	Al-Izar	The girdle, or, The loin-cloth	الإزار

J

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Jabbah	Al-Jabhah	"The forehead" of the scorpion	الجبهة

K

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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	Al-Kaukab	Planet	كوكب
Kurhah	Al-Qurhah	"The blaze" on a horse's brow	القرحة

L

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Lesath	Al-Las'ah	The sting	اللسعة
Luh-Denebola	dhanab al-asad	the lion's tail	ذنب الليث

M

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Maasym	Al-Mi'sam	The wrist	معصم الثّريّا
Maaz	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	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	Al-Maraqq	The loins	المراق
Mintaka	Al-Mintaqah	The belt	المنطقة
Mirak	Al-Mi'zar	The loin-cloth	المراق
Mirfak	Al-Mirfaq	"The elbow" of the Pleiades	مرفق الثّريّا
Mizar	miʾzar	apron	المئزر
Mothallah	Al-Muthallath	The triangle	المثلث
Muphrid	Al-Mufrid	The solitary one	المفرد
Murzim	Al-Murzim	The roarer	المرزم

N

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Nashira	Sa'd Nashirah	The lucky star of Nashirah	سعد ناشرة
Nekkar	Al-Baqqar	The cattleman	البقار
Nasl	An-Nasl	The arrowhead	النصل
Nihal	An-Nihal	The camels quenching their thirst	النهال
Nusakan	An-Nasaqan	The two series	النسقان

O

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Okda	Al-'Uqdah	The knot	العقدة

P

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Phact	Al-Fakhitah	The dove	فاخثة
Phad	Al-Fakhidh	The thigh	فخذ
Pherkad	Al-Farqad	The calf	فرقد

R

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Rasalased	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	Ar-Rijl	The foot	رجل الجبّار
Rigilkent	Rijl Qanturus	Foot of the centaur	رجل قنطورس
Risha	Ar-Risha'	The rope	الرشاء
Rukbah	Ar-Rukbah	The knee	الركبة
Rukbat	Ar-Rukbah	The knee	ركبة الرامي

S

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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	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
Sheratan	Ash-Sharatan	The two signs	الشرطان
Sirrah	Surrat al-Faras	Belly-button of the female horse	سرة الفرس
Skat	As-Saq	The leg	الساق
Sulafat	As-Sulhafat	The tortoise	السلحفاة
Sheliak	Alshelaiyak	-	الشلياق
Sirius	Alsheraa Alyamaniyah	-	الشعرى اليمانية

T

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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	Ath-Thu'ban	The snake	الثعبان
Tom Craik	muhammad	The Suicide bomber	الثعبان

U

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Unukalhai	'Unuq al-Hayyah	Neck of the snake	عنق الحية

W

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
Wasat	Wasat as-Sama'	"Middle" of the sky	وسط
Wazn	Al-Wazn	The weight	الوزن
Wezen	Al-Wazn	The weight	الوزن

Y

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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

Proper Name	Arabic Name	Meaning	بالعربية
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

References

• ICOP: Arabic Star Names
• [2]
• The Astronomy Corner: Reference – Star Names v1.1.2 (2006-05-28)
• RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996: Star Names: Where Do They Come From? And Can You Buy One?

See also

• Islamic astronomy
• List of traditional star names