List of Arabic star names

This is a list of Arabic star names. 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]

Contents
History of Arabic star names
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
Others
See also
References
External links

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
 Main group

(quantity: single) (quantity: plural)

ِArabic star group/ division name

Arabic transliterated (vowelled)

ِArabic star name name
Arabic
Arab-Latinized star name star [closest Meaning
(vowelled) name
romanization] Transliterated Name
Group/
Division [closest
Name romanization]

the River's
or Stream's
‫ﺧ ُﺮ ٱﻟََْﻨ ْﻬﺮ‬
‫آﺧﺮ‬
Acamar ِ ‫آ‬ Ākhiru-n-Nahr End/ Tail/
‫اﻟﻨﻬﺮ‬ Edge/
Border
the River's
or Stream's
‫ﺧ ُﺮ ٱﻟََْﻨ ْﻬﺮ‬
‫آﺧﺮ‬
Achernar ِ ‫آ‬ Ākhiru-n-Nahr End/ Tail/
‫اﻟﻨﻬﺮ‬ Edge/
Border
the
Acrab ‫ﻋَﻘ َْﺮب‬ ‫ﻋﻘﺮب‬ ʽAqrab
Scorpion
the Claw/
Açubens ‫اﻟْﺰﺑَﺎﻧَﻰ‬ ‫اﻟ ّﺰﺑﺎﻧﻰ‬ ʼaz-Zubānā
Dart/ Sting
the Braid/
Curl/
Adhafera َ ِ‫اﻟْﻀﻔ‬
‫ﻴﺮة‬ ‫اﻟﻀﻔﻴﺮة‬ aḍ-Ḍafiyrah/ Strand (of
the lion's
mane)

the Virgin/
Adhara َ ‫اﻟْﻌَﺬ‬
‫َارى‬ ‫اﻟﻌﺬارى‬ al-ʽAdhārā
Nymph ‫اﻟْﻌَﺬ َارِي‬ al-ʽAdhāriy the Virgin

the Tail/
Adhil ‫اﻟْﺬ َﻳْﻞ‬ ‫اﻟﺬﻳﻞ‬ adh-Dhayl
Annex

Adib ‫اﻟْﺬﺋْﺐ‬ ‫اﻟﺬﺋﺐ‬ adh-Dhiʼb the Wolf

the Eye (of

Ain ‫ﻋَﻴْﻦ‬ ‫ﻋﻴﻦ‬ ʽAyn
the bull)
the Talons
Aladfar ‫أُﻇْﻔُﻮر‬ ‫اﻷﻇﻔﺮ‬ al-ʼUẓfūr
(of the
Swooping
Eagle)

the
Alawaid Protecting
Mother
the Prote
‫اﻟﻌﻮاﺋﺬ‬ Camels;
also nicknamed ‫)اﻟْﻌَﻮَاﺋِﺬ )اﻟْﺮﺑ َﻊ‬ al-ʽAwāʼidh (ar-Rubaʽ)
the Old
‫اﻟْﻌَﻮَاﺋِﺬ‬ al-ʽAwāʼidh Camels; t
Alrubaʽ "the Four" ‫))اﻟﺮﺑﻊ‬ nickname
Camels;
nicknamed
"the Four"

the
‫اﻟ ْ َﻌﻮاد‬ ‫اﻟﻌﻮاد‬
ّ al-ʽAwwād Lutanist/
Lute Player
the
Albali ‫اﻟﺒَﺎﻟ ِﻊ‬ ‫اﻟﺒﺎﻟﻊ‬ al-Bāliʽ
Swallower

Alchibah ‫ﺨﺒَﺎء‬
ِ ‫اﻟ‬ ‫اﻟﺨﺒﺎء‬ al-Khibāʼ the Tent

the Faint
Alcor ‫اﻟﺨَﻮار‬ ‫اﻟﺨﻮار‬ al-Khawwār
One
the
Follower (of
Aldebaran ‫اَﻟﺪﺑ َ َﺮان‬ ‫اﻟﺪﺑﺮان‬ ad-Dabarān
the
Pleiades)
fixed to here
Alderamin ‫اﻟﺬراع‬ adh-Dhirāʽu l-Yamīn the Right
Arm (of
‫اﻟﻴﻤﻴﻦ‬ Cepheus)
ʼaḍ-Ḍibaāʽ/

ʼaḍ-Ḍibāʽ [Adh-
Aldhibah ‫اﻟْﻀﺒَﺎع‬ ‫اﻟﻀّﺒﺎع‬ the Hyenas
Dhibaaʽ/ Adh-
Dhibaaʽe]

ʼadh-Dhiʼbayn ʼadh-Dhiʼbayn
the Two
Aldhibain ‫اﻟْﺬﺋْﺒَﻴْﻦ‬ ‫اﻟﺬ ّﺋﺒﻴﻦ‬ [Adzh-Dzhi'bayn/ Hyenas/ ‫اﻟْﺬﺋْﺒَﻴْﻦ‬ [Adzh-Dzhi'bayn/ the Two H
Adzh-Dzhi'ebayn] Wolves Adzh-Dzhi'ebayn]

the
Aldulfin Al Dhanab al Dulfīm Dolphin's
Tail
the Flock of
Alfirk ‫اﻟﻔﺮﻗﺔ‬ al-Firqah
sheep

‫رﺟﻞ‬ (Foot of)

Algebar (Rijl) ul-Jabbār
‫اﻟﺠﺒﺎر‬ the Giant

Algedi ‫اﻟﺠﺪي‬ al-Jady the Goat

the Flank
Algenib ‫اﻟﺠﻨﺐ‬ al-Janb (of
Pegasus)
the
Forehead
Algieba ‫اﻟﺠﺒﻬﺔ‬ al-Jab'hah
(of the
Lion)

‫رأس‬ (Head of)

Algol (Ra'as) al-Ghūl
‫اﻟﻐﻮل‬ the Ghoul

Algorab ‫اﻟﻐﺮاب‬ al-Ghurāb the Crow

the Brand
(on the
Alhena ‫اﻟﻬﻨﻌﺔ‬ al-Hanʽah
neck of the
camel)
The black
Alioth ‫اﻟﺠﻮن‬ Al-Jawn horse
"John"

‫اﻟﻘﺎﺋﺪ‬ the Leader

(of the
Alkaid ‫ﺑﻨﺎت‬ al-Qā'id (banāt naʽash)
mourning
‫ﻧﻌﺶ‬ maidens)

Alkes ‫اﻟﻜﺄس‬ al-Ka's the Cup

the
Caracal/
ʼal-ʽAnāqi ʼl-Arḍ Desert
َْ ‫ﺎق‬ ‫ﻋﻨﺎق‬ Lynx; other
Almak/ Almach ‫ٱﻷرْض‬ ِ َ ‫ﻋَﻨ‬ ‫اﻷرض‬ [Al-ʽAnaaqi 'l-Ardh] meaning:
"She-kid/
She-Goat
of the land"

the Shining
Almeisan ‫اﻟﻤﻴﺴﺎن‬ al-Maysān
one

the Bright
Alnair ‫اﻟﻨّﻴّﺮ‬ an-Nayyir
one

Alnasl ‫اﻟﻨﺼﻞ‬ an-Naşl the Blade

the String
Alnilam ‫اﻟﻨّﻈﻢ‬ an-Niżm
of Pearls
the Girdle
Alnitak ‫اﻟﻨﻄﺎق‬ an-Niṭāq (Orion's
Belt)
the Solitary
Alphard ‫اﻟﻔﺮد‬ al-Fard
one
Alphecca ‫ﻧﻴﺮ‬ (Nayyir) al-Fakkah (the Bright
one of) the
‫اﻟﻔﻜّﺔ‬
Broken
(Ring)
 ‫ﺳﺮة‬
ُ (Navel of)
Alpheratz (Surrat) al-Faras
‫اﻟﻔﺮس‬ the Mare

Alruba'

the Well-
Alrescha ‫اﻟﺮﺷﺎء‬ ar-Rishā'
Rope
aṣ-Ṣaāfiyy/

aṣ-Ṣāfiyy [Asw-
Alsafi ّ ‫اﻟْﺼﺎ ِﻓ‬
‫ﻲ‬ ‫اﻟﺼﺎﻓﻲ‬
ّ Swaafiyy/ the Tripods

As-Ssaafiyy]

Alsuhail ‫ﺳﻬﻴﻞ‬ Suhayl Glorious

‫اﻟﻨّﺴﺮ‬ the Flying

Altair (an-Nisr) uṭ-Ṭāʼir
‫اﻟﻄّﺎﺋﺮ‬ (Eagle)

Altais ‫اﻟﺘﻴﺲ‬ at-Tays the Goat

the View (of

Alterf ‫اﻟﻄﺮف‬ aṭ-Ṭarf
the Lion)

Aludra ‫اﻟﻌﺬرة‬ al-ʽUdhrah Virginity

Alula Australis, Alula ‫اﻟﻘﻔﺰة‬ the First

(al-Qafzat) ul-Ūla'
Borealis ‫اﻷوﻟﻰ‬ (Leap)

the fatty
Alya ‫اﻷﻟﻴﺔ‬ al-Alyah Tail of a
sheep

Alsephina ‫اﻟﺴﻔﻴﻨﺔ‬ Al-Safinah the ship

‫ﻋﺮﺟﺔ‬ Curve of
Angetenar ʽArjat un-Nahr
‫اﻟﻨﻬﺮ‬ the River

Anqa,
Ankaa ‫اﻟﻌﻨﻘﺎء‬ al-ʽAnqā'
Phoenix
the
Arkab ‫اﻟﻌﺮﻗﻮب‬ al-ʽArqūb
Hamstring

Arneb ‫اﻷرﻧﺐ‬ al-Arnab the Hare

ʼar-Rāqiṣ ʼar-Rāqiṣ
the Dancer;
Arrakis ‫اﻟْﺮاﻗِﺺ‬ ‫اﻟﺮاﻗﺺ‬ [Ar-Raaqis/ Ar- Trotting Arrakis ‫اﻟْﺮاﻗِﺺ‬ [Ar-Raa
Raaqiss] Camel Raaqiss

ʼash-Shujaāʽ/

ʼash-Shujāʽ
the Hydra/
Asuja (improperly spelt
Asuia) َ ‫اﻟْﺸ‬
‫ﺠﺎع‬ ‫اﻟﺸﺠﺎع‬
[Ash-Shujaaʽ/
Sea-
Serpent

Ash-Shujaaʽe]

the
Atik
‫ﻋﺎﺗﻖ‬ al-ʽĀtiq ath-Thurayyā
Shoulder
‫اﻟﺜّﺮﻳّﺎ‬ (of
Perseus)

the Barking
Auva ‫اﻟﻌﻮّاء‬ al-ʽAwwā'
(Dog)

َ
Azfar Adib
‫َﺎر ٱﻟْﱢﺬﺋْﺐ‬ َ
ُ ‫أﻇْﻔ‬
‫أﻇﻔﺎر‬ ʼAẓfaāru ʼdh-Dhiʼb/ the Wolf's Azfar
ُ ‫أﻇْﻔ‬
‫َﺎر‬ ‫أﻇﻔﺎر اﻟﺬﺋﺐ‬ ʼAẓfaāru
Nails/ Adib
‫اﻟﺬﺋﺐ‬
ʼAẓfaāru ʼdh-Dhiʼb Fingerprints ‫ٱﻟْﱢﺬﺋْﺐ‬ ʼAẓfaār

[Azw·faru ʼdh-Dhiʼb/ [Azw·fa

 Azz·faru ʼdh-Dhiʼb] Azz·faru

(Persian: Ôshyôneh) (Ostrich)

Azha ‫اﺷﯿﺎﻧﻪ‬ Āshiyānah Nest

B
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Baham Sa'ad ul-Biham Luck of the Young Beasts ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺒﻬﺎم‬ Theta Pegasi
Baten Kaitos Baṭni Qayṭus Belly of Cetus ‫ﺑﻄﻦ ﻗﻴﻄﻮس‬ Zeta Ceti
Beid Bayḍ Eggs ‫ﺑﻴﺾ‬ Omicron¹ Eridani
Eta Ursae Majoris
Benetnash Banāt un-Naʿash Daughters of the bier ‫ﺑﻨﺎت اﻟﻨﻌﺶ‬
see also Alkaid

Betelgeuse Ibṭ ul-Jawzā' Armpit of the Central One ‫إﺑﻂ اﻟﺠﻮزاء‬ Alpha Orionis
Botein al-Buṭayn the Belly (of the ram) ‫ﺑﻄﻴﻦ‬ Delta Arietis

C
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Caph al-Kaff ul-Khaḍib the Palm (reaching from the Pleiades) ‫اﻟﻜـــﻒ اﻟﺨﻀﻴﺐ‬ Beta Cassiopeiae
Celbalrai Kalb ur-Rāʿī the Shepherd's Dog ‫ﻛﻠﺐ اﻟﺮاﻋﻲ‬ Beta Ophiuchi
Chort al-Kharat the Rib ‫اﻟﺨﺮت‬ Theta Leonis
Cursa Kursiyy al-Jauzah the Chair or Footstool (of Orion) ‫اﻟﻜﺮﺳﻲ‬
ّ Beta Eridani

D
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Dabih Saʿad udh-Dhābiḥ the lucky star of the Slaughterer ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺬ ّاﺑﺢ‬
ّ Beta Capricorni
Deneb Dhanab ud-Dajājah Tail of the hen ‫ذﻧﺐ اﻟﺪﺟﺎﺟﺔ‬ alpha Cygni
Deneb Algedi Dhanab ul-Jady Tail of the goat ‫ذﻧﺐ اﻟﺠﺪي‬ Delta Capricorni
Deneb Dulfim Dhanab ud-Dulfīn Tail of the Dolphin ‫ذﻧﺐ اﻟﺪّﻟﻔﻴﻦ‬ Epsilon Delphini
Beta Ceti
Deneb Kaitos Dhanab ul-Qayṭus (ul-Janūbīyy) (Southern) Tail of Cetus ‫ذﻧﺐ ﻗﻴﻄﻮس اﻟﺠﻨﻮﺑﻲ‬
see also Diphda

Denebola Dhanab ul-Asad Tail of the lion ‫ذﻧﺐ اﻻﺳﺪ‬ Beta Leonis
Diphda aḍ-Ḍifdaʿ ath-Thānī the (second) Frog ‫اﻟﻀّﻔﺪع اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ‬ Beta Ceti
Dschubba al-Jab'hah the Forehead (of the scorpion) ‫اﻟﺠﺒﻬﺔ‬ Delta Scorpii
Dubhe Kāhil ud-Dubb (the back of) the Bear ‫ﻛﺎﻫﻞ اﻟﺪّب‬ Alpha Ursae Majoris
Dziban adh-Dhi'ban the Two Wolves or Jackals ‫اﻟﺬﺋﺒﺎن‬ Psi Draconis

E
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Edasich adh-Dhikh the Hyena ‫اﻟﺬ ّﻳﺦ‬ Iota Draconis
El Nath an-Naṭḥ the butting (of the bull's horns) ‫اﻟﻨﻄﺢ‬ Beta Tauri
Eltanin/ Etamin/ Etanin (properly: Raseltinnin) at-Tinnin the Great Serpent ‫اﻟﺘﻨﻴﻦ‬ Gamma Draconis
Enif al-Anf the Nose (of Pegasus) ‫اﻷﻧﻒ‬ Epsilon Pegasi
Errai ar-Rāʿī the Shepherd ‫اﻟﺮاﻋﻲ‬ Gamma Cephei

F
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Fomalhaut Fum al-Ḥūt Mouth of the Whale ‫ﻓﻢ اﻟﺤﻮت‬ Alpha Piscis Austrini
Furud al-Furud the bright Single ones (but see that article) ‫اﻟﻔﺮد‬ Zeta Canis Majoris

G
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
refers to two stars:
Gienah al-Janāḥ the Wing ‫اﻟﺠﻨﺎح‬ Gamma Corvi aka Gienah Corvi, in Corvus
Epsilon Cygni aka Gienah Cygni, in Cygnus

Gomeisa al-Ghumaişā' the Bleary-eyed one ‫اﻟﻐﻤﻴﺼﺎء‬ Beta Canis Minoris

H
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Hadar Ḥaḍār Settlement ‫ﺣﻀﺎر‬ Beta Centauri
Hamal Rā's al-Ḥamal (head of) the Ram ‫رأس اﻟﺤﻤﻞ‬ Alpha Arietis
Lambda Orionis
Heka al-Haqʿah the White Spot ‫اﻟﻬﻘﻌﺔ‬
see also Meissa

Homam Saʿad al-Humām the Lucky star of the High-minded ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﻬﻤﺎم‬ Zeta Pegasi

I
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Iklil Iklīl al Jabhah The Crown of the Forehead ‫إﻛﻠﻴﻞ اﻟﺠﺒﻬﺔ‬ Rho Scorpii
Izar Al-Izar The girdle, or, The loin-cloth ‫اﻹزار‬ Epsilon Boötis

J
Common name Arabic name Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Jabbah al-Jab'hah the Forehead (of the scorpion) ‫اﻟﺠﺒﻬﺔ‬ Nu Scorpii

K
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Iota Aurigae
Kabdhilinan Kaʿab Dhiy l-ʿInān the Shoulder of the Rein-holder ‫ﻛﻌﺐ ذي اﻟﻌﻨﺎن‬
also named Hassaleh

Kaffaljidhma al-Kaff al-Jadhmā' the Cut-short Hand ‫اﻟﻜﻒ اﻟﺠﺬﻣﺎء‬ Gamma Ceti
Epsilon Sagittarii

Delta Sagittarii
Kaus Australis, Kaus Media, Kaus Borealis al-Qaws the Bow ‫اﻟﻘﻮس‬
Lambda Sagittarii

Keid al-Qaiḍ the (broken egg) Shells ‫اﻟﻘﻴﺾ‬ Omicron² Eridani

Kitalpha Qiṭʿat al-Faras Part of the Horse ‫ﻗﻄﻌﺔ اﻟﻔﺮس‬ Alpha Equulei
Kochab al-Kawkab the Star ‫ﻛﻮﻛﺐ‬ Beta Ursae Minoris
Kurhah al-Qurḥah the Blaze on a horse's brow ‫اﻟﻘﺮﺣﺔ‬ Xi Cephei

L
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Lesath al-Lasʿah The sting ‫اﻟﻠﺴﻌﺔ‬ Upsilon Scorpii
Luh-Denebola / Denebola Dhanab al-Asad/al-Layth the lion's tail ‫اﻟﻠﻴﺚ‬/‫ذﻧﺐ اﻻﺳﺪ‬ Beta Leonis

M
 Arabic star name
Arab-Latinized star name Arabic star name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Scientific star name
(vowelled)

Maasym ‫ﻣﻌﺼﻢ اﻟﺜّﺮﻳّﺎ‬ al-Miʿasam uth-Thurayyā the Wrist (of Hercules) Lambda Herculis

Maaz ‫اﻟﻤﻌﺰ‬ al-Māʿaz the he-Goat Epsilon Aurigae

Mankib ‫ﻣﻨﻜﺐ اﻟﻔﺮس‬ Mankib (ul-Faras) the Shoulder (of the Horse) Alpha Pegasi

Marfik ‫اﻟﻤﺮﻓﻖ‬ al-Mirfaq the Elbow Lambda Ophiuchi

Markab ‫ﻣﺮﻛﺐ اﻟﻔﺮس‬ Markab (ul-Faras) the Saddle (of the Horse) Alpha Pegasi

Markeb ‫ﻣﺮﻛﺐ‬ Markab Something to Ride Kappa Velorum

Matar ‫ﺳﻌﺪ ﻣﻄﺮ‬ al-Saʿad ul-Maṭar the lucky star of Rain Eta Pegasi

Mebsuta ‫اﻟﺬ ّراع اﻟﻤﺒﺴﻮﻃﻪ‬ adh-Dhirāʿu l-Mabsūṭah the Outstretched (Paw) Epsilon Geminorum

Megrez ‫ﻣﻐﺮز‬ al-Maghriz the Base of the bear's tail Delta Ursae Majoris

Meissa ‫اﻟﻤﻴﺴﺎن‬ al-Maysān the Shining one Lambda Orionis

Mekbuda ‫اﻟﺬ ّراع اﻟﻤﻘﺒﻮﺿﺔ‬ adh-Dhirāʿu l-Maqbūḍah the Folded (Arm) Zeta Geminorum

Meleph Al Ma᾽laf the Stall Epsilon Cancri

Menkalinan ‫ﻣﻨﻜﺐ ذي اﻟﻌﻨﺎن‬ Mankib Dhiyi l-ʿInān Shoulder of the Rein-holder Beta Aurigae

Menkar ‫اﻟﻤﻨﺨﺮ‬ al-Minkhar the Nostril Alpha Ceti

Menkent ‫ﻣﻨﻜﺐ ﻗﻨﻄﻮرس‬ Mankib ul-Qanṭūris the Shoulder of the Centaur Theta Centauri

Menkib ‫ﻣﻨﻜﺐ اﻟﺜّﺮﻳّﺎ‬ Al-Mankib uth-Thurayyā "The shoulder" of the Pleiades

ʼal-Marāqq
Merak ّ‫اﻟْﻤِ َﺮاق‬ ّ‫اﻟﻤﺮاق‬ [Al-Maraaqq]
the Loins (of the bear) Beta Ursae Majoris

Mintaka ‫اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ‬ al-Minṭaqah the Belt (of Orion) Delta Orionis

Mirach ّ‫اﻟْﻤِ َﺮاق‬ ّ‫اﻟﻤﺮاق‬ ʼal-Marāqq the Loins/ Loinclotht Beta Andromedae

Mirak ‫ق‬ ِ ْ ‫اﻟ‬

ّ ‫ﻤ َﺮا‬ ‫ق‬
ّ ‫اﻟﻤﺮا‬ ʼal-Marāqq the Loin-cloth Epsilon Boötis

Mirfak ‫ﻣﺮﻓﻖ اﻟﺜّﺮﻳّﺎ‬ al-Mirfaq uth-Thurayyā the Elbow Alpha Persei

Mizar ‫اﻟﻤﺌﺰر‬ al-Mi'zar the Apron Zeta Ursae Majoris

Mothallah ‫اﻟﺮﻋﺲ اﻟﻤﺜﻠﺚ‬ Ra'as ul-Muthallath (Head of) the Triangle Alpha Trianguli

ʼal-Muḥlifayn
Muhlifain ‫ﺤﻠِﻔَﻴْﻦ‬
ْ ‫ﻣ‬
ُ ‫ﻣﺤﻠﻔﻴﻦ‬ Gamma Centauri
[Al-MuḤlifayn]

ʼal-Muḥlifayn
Muliphein ‫ﺤﻠِﻔَﻴْﻦ‬
ْ ُ‫ﻣ‬ ‫ﻣﺤﻠﻔﻴﻦ‬ [Al-MuḤlifayn]
Gamma Canis Majoris

Muphrid ‫اﻟﻤﻔﺮد اﻟﺮاﻣﺢ‬ Mufrid ur-Rāmiḥ the Solitary one of the Lancer Eta Boötis

Murzim/ Mirzam ِ ْ ‫ﻤ ْﺮ ِزم \اﻟ‬

‫ﻤ ْﺮ َزم‬ ُ ْ ‫اﻟ‬ ‫اﻟﻤﺮزم‬ ʼal-Murzim/ ʼal-Mirzam the Herald Beta Canis Majoris

N
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Nashira Saʿad Nāshirah Lucky star of Nashirah ‫ﺳﻌﺪ ﻧﺎﺷﺮة‬ Gamma Capricorni
Nekkar al-Baqqār the Cattleman ‫اﻟﺒﻘﺎر‬ Beta Boötis
Nihal an-Nihāl (camels) Quenching their thirst ‫اﻟﻨﻬﺎل‬ Beta Leporis
Nusakan an-Nasaqān The two arrays ‫اﻟﻨﺴﻘﺎن‬ Beta Coronae Borealis
Nushaba / Alnasl Zujji n-Nashshāba [Zujji n-Nashāba?] / an-Naşl the Arrowhead ‫ اﻟﻨﺼﻞ‬/ ‫ُزج اﻟﻨﺸﺎﺑﺔ‬ Gamma Sagittarii

O
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Okda al-ʿUqdah the Knot ‫اﻟﻌﻘﺪة‬ Alpha Piscium

P
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Phact (al-)Fākhitah the Dove ‫ﻓﺎﺧﺜﺔ‬ Alpha Columbae
Phad (al-)Fakhidh the Thigh ‫ﻓﺨﺬ‬ Gamma Ursae Majoris
Pherkad (al-)Farqad the Calf ‫ﻓﺮﻗﺪ‬ Gamma Ursae Minoris

R
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Rasalased Ra'as ul-Assad Head of the lion ‫رأس اﻷﺳﺪ‬ Epsilon Leonis
Rasalgethi Ra'as ul-Jathī Head of the Kneeler ‫رأس اﻟﺠﺎﺛﻲ‬ Alpha Herculis
Rasalhague Ra'as ul-Ḥawwā' Head of the Snake-man ‫رأس اﻟﺤﻮّاء‬ Alpha Ophiuchi
Rastaban Ra'as uth-Thuʿabān Head of the Snake ‫رأس اﻟﺜﻌﺒﺎن‬ Beta Draconis
Beta Orionis
Rigel Rijl ul-Jabbār Foot of the Giant ‫رﺟﻞ اﻟﺠﺒّﺎر‬
see also Algebar

Rigilkent Rijl ul-Qanṭūris Foot of the Centaur ‫رﺟﻞ اﻟﻘﻨﻄﻮرس‬ Alpha Centauri
Risha ar-Rishā' the Well-Rope ‫اﻟﺮﺷﺎء‬ Alpha Piscium
Rukbah ar-Rukbah the Knee ‫اﻟﺮﻛﺒﺔ‬ Delta Cassiopeiae
Rukbat Rukbat ur-Rāmī Knee of the archer ‫رﻛﺒﺔ اﻟﺮاﻣﻲ‬ Alpha Sagittarii

S
Common namesaba ! Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Sabik as-Sābiq the Preceding ‫اﻟﺴﺎﺑﻖ‬ Eta Ophiuchi
Sadachbia Saʿad ul-Akhbiyyah Lucky star of the Tents ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻻﺧﺒﻴﺔ‬ Gamma Aquarii
Sadalbari Saʿad ul-Bāriʿ Lucky star of the Splendid one ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺒﺎرع‬ Mu Pegasi
Sadalmelik Saʿad ul-Malik Lucky star of the King ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﻤﻠﻚ‬ Alpha Aquarii
Sadalsuud Saʿad us-Suʿūd Luck of Lucks ‫ﺳﻌﺪ اﻟﺴﻌﻮد‬ Beta Aquarii
Sadr aṣ-Ṣadr the Breast (of the hen) ‫اﻟﺼﺪر‬ Gamma Cygni
Saiph as-Sayf the Sword (of Orion) ‫اﻟﺴﻴﻒ‬ Kappa Orionis
Scheat as-Sāʿid the Shoulder ‫اﻟﺴﺎﻋﺪ‬ Beta Pegasi
Shaula ash-Shawlāh the Raised (tail of the scorpion) ‫اﻟﺸﻮﻟﺔ‬ Lambda Scorpii
Shedir as-Ṣadr the Breast ‫اﻟﺼﺪر‬ Alpha Cassiopeiae
Sheliak ash-Shiliyāq Lyra ‫اﻟﺸﻠﻴﺎق‬ Beta Lyrae
Sheratan ash-Sharāṭān the Two Signs ‫اﻟﺸﺮﻃﺎن‬ Beta Arietis
Sirrah Surratu l-Faras Navel (of the Mare) ‫ﺳﺮة اﻟﻔﺮس‬
ُ Alpha Andromedae
Skat as-Sāq (or Shi'at) the Leg (or the Wish) ‫ ﺷﺌﺖ‬/ ‫اﻟﺴﺎق‬ Delta Aquarii
Spica as-Sunbulah the Stem ‫اﻟﺴﻨﺒﻠﺔ‬ Alpha Virginis
Sulafat as-Sulḥafāh the Tortoise ‫اﻟﺴﻠﺤﻔﺎة‬ Gamma Lyrae

T
Arabic star name
Arab-Latinized name Arabic star name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Scientific star name
(vowelled)

Talitha Australis, Talitha Borealis ‫اﻟﻘﻔﺰة اﻟﺜّﺎﻟﺜﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﻘﻔﺰة اﻟﺜّﺎﻟﺜﺔ‬ al-Qafzat uth-Thālathah the Third Leap (of the ghazal) Kappa Ursae Majoris
Tania Australis, Tania Borealis ‫اﻟﻘﻔﺰة اﻟﺜّﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬ ‫اﻟﻘﻔﺰة اﻟﺜّﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬ al-Qafzat uth-Thāniyah the Second Leap (of the gazelle) Mu Ursae Majoris
Tarf ‫اﻟﻄ َﺮف‬ ‫اﻟﻄﺮف‬ aț-Țarf "The glance" of the lion Beta Cancri

ath-Thuʽabān
Thuban ‫اﻟْﺜﻌْﺒَﺎن‬ ‫اﻟﺜﻌﺒﺎن‬ the Snake Alpha Draconis
[Ath-ThuʽAbaan]

U
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Unukalhai ʿUnuq ul-Ḥayyah Neck of the Snake ‫ﻋﻨﻖ اﻟﺤﻴﺔ‬ Alpha Serpentis

V
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Vega an-Nisr ul-Wāqiʿ the Falling Eagle ‫اﻟﻨﺴﺮ اﻟﻮاﻗﻊ‬ Alpha Lyrae

W
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Wasat Wasṭ us-Samā' "Middle" of the sky ‫وﺳﻂ اﻟﺴﻤﺎء‬ Delta Geminorum
Wezen al-Wazn the Weight ‫اﻟﻮزن‬ Delta Canis Majoris
Wezn al-Wazn the Weight ‫اﻟﻮزن‬ Beta Columbae

Y
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Yed Posterior Mu'akhkhir Yad ul-Ḥawwā' (Back of the Snake Man's) Hand ‫ﻣﺆﺧّﺮ ﻳﺪ اﻟﺤﻮّاء‬ Epsilon Ophiuchi
Yed Prior Muqaddim Yad ul-Ḥawwā' (Palm of the Snake Man's) Hand ‫ﻣﻘﺪّم ﻳﺪ اﻟﺤﻮّاء‬ Delta Ophiuchi

Z
Common name Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning Arabic name Scientific star name
Zaurac az-Zawraq the Boat ‫اﻟﺰورق‬ Gamma Eridani
Zavijava Zāwiyat ul-ʿAwwā' the Angle of the Barking Dog ‫زاوﻳﺔ اﻟﻌﻮاء‬ Beta Virginis
Zawiah
az-Zāwiyah The angle ‫اﻟﺰاوﻳﺔ‬ Eta Virginis
aka Zaniah

Zubenelgenubi az-Zubān ul-Janūbiy Southern Claw (of the scorpion) ‫اﻟﺰﺑﺎن اﻟﺠﻨﻮﺑﻲ‬ Alpha Librae
Zubenelhakrabi Zuban al-ʿAqrab Claws (of the scorpion) ‫زﺑﺎﻧﻰ اﻟﻌﻘﺮب‬ Gamma Librae
Zubeneshamali az-Zubān ush-Shamāliy Northern Claw (of the scorpion) ‫اﻟﺰﺑﺎن اﻟﺸﻤﺎﻟﻲ‬ Beta Librae

Others
Common Arabic
Arabic name (transliteration) Meaning
name name
Milky Way Darb ut-Tabānah The Milky Road ‫درب اﻟﺘﺒﺎﻧﺔ‬

Andromeda as-Saḥābat uş-Şaghirah ("small "little cloud" was the Arabic name for the Andromeda Galaxy, which was first mentioned by Al-Sufi in his ‫ﺤﺎﺑَﺔ‬
َ ‫ﺴ‬َ ‫اﻟ‬
Galaxy cloud")[3][4] Book of Fixed Stars ‫ﻴﺮة‬
َ ِ‫اﻟﺼَﻐ‬

See also
Islamic astronomy
List of proper names of 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?" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070928043446/http://www.rmsc.org/planet
arium/qandi/snames.htm), RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Information Bulletin #19 December 1996, (archived 2007)
3. Henbest, N.; Couper, H. (1994). The guide to the galaxy (https://archive.org/details/guidetogalaxy00henb). CUP Archive. p. 31 (https://archive.or
g/details/guidetogalaxy00henb/page/31). ISBN 0-521-45882-X.
4. Kepple, G. R.; Sanner, G. W. (1998). The Night Sky Observer's Guide. Vol. 1. Willmann-Bell. p. 18. ISBN 0-943396-58-1.
Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP) website (http://www.icoproject.org/star.html), which in turn cites
Paul Kunitzsch, 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").

External links
ICOP: Arabic Star Names (http://www.icoproject.org/star.html)
Kaler, James, "Star Names: Proper Names" (http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/starname.html), University of Illinois
The Astronomy Corner: Reference – Star Names v1.1.2 (2006-05-28) from web.archive.org (https://web.archive.org/web/20080623093205/htt
p://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
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