Navigational Stars

(for which the Nautical Almanac carries full navigational information)

Name Bayer name Origin of name Meaning of name
Acamar Theta Eridani Arabic Another form of Achernar

Achernar Alpha Eridani Arabic end of the river (Eridanus)

Acrux Alpha Crucia Modern coined from Bayer name

Adhara Epsilon Canis Majoris Arabic the virgin(s)

Aldebaran Alpha Tauri Arabic follower (of the Pleiades)

Alloth Epsilon Ursa Majoris Arabic another form of Capella

Alkaid Eta Ursa Majoris Arabic leader of the daughters of the bier

Al Na'ir Alpha Gruis Arabic bright one (of teh fish's tail)

Alnilam Epsilon Orionis Arabic string of pearls

Alphard Alpha Hydrae Arabic solitary star of the serpent

Alphecca Alpha Corona Borealis Arabic the feeble one (in the crown)

Alpheratz Alpha Andromeda Arabic the horse's navel

Altair Alpha Aquilae Arabic flying eagle or vulture

Ankaa Alpha Phoenicia Arabic coined name

Antares Alpha Scorpii Greek rival of Mars (in color)

Arcturus Alpha Bootis Greek the bear's guard

Atria Alpha Trianguli Australis Modern coined from Bayer name

Avior Epsilon Carinae Modern coined name

Bellatrix Gamma Orionis Latin female warrior

Betelgeuse Alpha Orionis Arabic the armpit (of Orion)

Canopus Alpha Carinae Greek city of ancient Egypt

Caapella Alpha Aurigae Latin little she-goat

Deneb Alpha Cygni Arabic tail of the lion

Denebola Beta Leonis Arabic tail of the lion

Diphda Beta Ceti Arabic the second frog (Fomelhaut was once the first)

Dubhe Alpha Ursa Majoris Arabic the bear's back

Elnath Beta Tauri Arabic one butting with horns

Eltanin Gamma Draconis Arabic head of the dragon

Enif Epsilon Pegasi Arabic nose of the horse

Fomalhaut Alpha Piscis Austrini Arabic mouth of the southern fish

Gacrux Gamma Crucia Modern coined from Bayer name

Glensh Gamma Corvi Arabic right wing of the raven

Hadar Beta Centauri Modern leg of teh centaur

Hamal Alpha Arietis Arabic full grown lamb

Kaus Australis Epsilon Sagitarii Ar., L. southern part of the bow

Kochab Beta Ursa Minoris Arabic shortened form of "north star" (named when it was that, c. 1500 BC - AD 300)

Markab Alpha Pegasi Arabic saddle (of Pegasus)

Menkar Alpha Ceti Arabic nose (of the whale)

Menkent Theta Centauri Modern shoulder of the centaur

Miaplacidus Beta Carinae Ar., L. quiet or still waters

Mirfak Alpha Persei Arabic elbow of the Pleiades

Nunki Delta Sagittarii Babylonian constellation of the holy city (Eridu)

Peacock Alpha Pavonis Modern coined from Engilsh name of constellation

Polaris Alpha Ursa Minoris Latin the pole (star)

Pollux Beta Geminorum Latin Zeus' other twin son (Castor, Alpha Geminorum is first twin)

Procyon Alpha Canis Minoris Greek head of the serpent charmer

Rasalhhague Alpha Ophiuchi Arabic head of the serpent charmer

Regulus Alpha Leonis Latin the prince

Rigel Beta Orionis Arabic foot (leftt foot of Orion)

Rigil Kentaurus Alpha Centauri Arabic foot of the centaur

Sabik Delta Ophiuchi Arabik second winner or conqueror

Schedar Alpha Cassiopeiae Arabic the breast (of Cassiopeia

Shaula Lambda Scorpii Arabic cocked-up part of the scorpoin's tail

Sirius Alpha Canis Majoris Greek the scorching (popularly, the dog star)

Spica Alpha Viginis Latin the ear of corn

Suhail Lambda Velorum Arabic shortened form of Al Suhail, one Arabic name for Canopus

Vega Alpha Lyrae Arabic the falling eagle or vulture

Zubenelgenubi Alpha Librae Arabic southern claw (of the scorpion)

Name	Bayer name	Origin of name	Meaning of name
Acamar	Theta Eridani	Arabic	Another form of Achernar
Achernar	Alpha Eridani	Arabic	end of the river (Eridanus)
Acrux	Alpha Crucia	Modern	coined from Bayer name
Adhara	Epsilon Canis Majoris	Arabic	the virgin(s)
Aldebaran	Alpha Tauri	Arabic	follower (of the Pleiades)
Alloth	Epsilon Ursa Majoris	Arabic	another form of Capella
Alkaid	Eta Ursa Majoris	Arabic	leader of the daughters of the bier
Al Na'ir	Alpha Gruis	Arabic	bright one (of teh fish's tail)
Alnilam	Epsilon Orionis	Arabic	string of pearls
Alphard	Alpha Hydrae	Arabic	solitary star of the serpent
Alphecca	Alpha Corona Borealis	Arabic	the feeble one (in the crown)
Alpheratz	Alpha Andromeda	Arabic	the horse's navel
Altair	Alpha Aquilae	Arabic	flying eagle or vulture
Ankaa	Alpha Phoenicia	Arabic	coined name
Antares	Alpha Scorpii	Greek	rival of Mars (in color)
Arcturus	Alpha Bootis	Greek	the bear's guard
Atria	Alpha Trianguli Australis	Modern	coined from Bayer name
Avior	Epsilon Carinae	Modern	coined name
Bellatrix	Gamma Orionis	Latin	female warrior
Betelgeuse	Alpha Orionis	Arabic	the armpit (of Orion)
Canopus	Alpha Carinae	Greek	city of ancient Egypt
Caapella	Alpha Aurigae	Latin	little she-goat
Deneb	Alpha Cygni	Arabic	tail of the lion
Denebola	Beta Leonis	Arabic	tail of the lion
Diphda	Beta Ceti	Arabic	the second frog (Fomelhaut was once the first)
Dubhe	Alpha Ursa Majoris	Arabic	the bear's back
Elnath	Beta Tauri	Arabic	one butting with horns
Eltanin	Gamma Draconis	Arabic	head of the dragon
Enif	Epsilon Pegasi	Arabic	nose of the horse
Fomalhaut	Alpha Piscis Austrini	Arabic	mouth of the southern fish
Gacrux	Gamma Crucia	Modern	coined from Bayer name
Glensh	Gamma Corvi	Arabic	right wing of the raven
Hadar	Beta Centauri	Modern	leg of teh centaur
Hamal	Alpha Arietis	Arabic	full grown lamb
Kaus Australis	Epsilon Sagitarii	Ar., L.	southern part of the bow
Kochab	Beta Ursa Minoris	Arabic	shortened form of "north star" (named when it was that, c. 1500 BC - AD 300)
Markab	Alpha Pegasi	Arabic	saddle (of Pegasus)
Menkar	Alpha Ceti	Arabic	nose (of the whale)
Menkent	Theta Centauri	Modern	shoulder of the centaur
Miaplacidus	Beta Carinae	Ar., L.	quiet or still waters
Mirfak	Alpha Persei	Arabic	elbow of the Pleiades
Nunki	Delta Sagittarii	Babylonian	constellation of the holy city (Eridu)
Peacock	Alpha Pavonis	Modern	coined from Engilsh name of constellation
Polaris	Alpha Ursa Minoris	Latin	the pole (star)
Pollux	Beta Geminorum	Latin	Zeus' other twin son (Castor, Alpha Geminorum is first twin)
Procyon	Alpha Canis Minoris	Greek	head of the serpent charmer
Rasalhhague	Alpha Ophiuchi	Arabic	head of the serpent charmer
Regulus	Alpha Leonis	Latin	the prince
Rigel	Beta Orionis	Arabic	foot (leftt foot of Orion)
Rigil Kentaurus	Alpha Centauri	Arabic	foot of the centaur
Sabik	Delta Ophiuchi	Arabik	second winner or conqueror
Schedar	Alpha Cassiopeiae	Arabic	the breast (of Cassiopeia
Shaula	Lambda Scorpii	Arabic	cocked-up part of the scorpoin's tail
Sirius	Alpha Canis Majoris	Greek	the scorching (popularly, the dog star)
Spica	Alpha Viginis	Latin	the ear of corn
Suhail	Lambda Velorum	Arabic	shortened form of Al Suhail, one Arabic name for Canopus
Vega	Alpha Lyrae	Arabic	the falling eagle or vulture
Zubenelgenubi	Alpha Librae	Arabic	southern claw (of the scorpion)

* From H. O. Pub No. 9, American Practical Navigator, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1958.

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