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empress-leo · 8 months

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Rating each of the 88 IAU designated constellations based on how good they would be as a name for a member of the Black family because I’m bored and this road trip will take at least 2 more hours.

Andromeda: 10/10 no notes. It’s perfect disaster name material.

Antila: 6/10 I feel they would be the weird middle child of the family

Apus: 5/10 could be good as a domineering father figure, otherwise I wouldn’t want to call my edgy soft boi Apus Black

Aquarius: 3/10 would get made fun of and not taken seriously

Aquila: 7/10 perfect name for an adventurous lesbian that got disinherited yet is a total badass

Ara: 1/10 I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from thinking Ara Ara Black

Aries: 9/10 perfect antagonist name

Auriga: 2/10 just doesn’t really roll off the tongue well

Boötes: 3/10 not bad, but the double Bs knock it down a few points

Caelum: 6/10 good as the edgy second in command to an antagonist, otherwise unremarkable

Camelopardis: 0/10 horrible would only be made fun of for being named the objectively worse version of giraffe

Cancer: 0/10 do I even need to explain

Canes Venatici: 2/10 to many syllables

Canis Major: 4/10 could see this being used as the name for an older twin, but not on its own

Canis Minor: 4/10 ditto but for the younger twin

Capricornus: 3/10 maybe as a medieval ancestor, but not as a modern black

Carina: 8/10 younger sister name

Cassiopeia: 10/10 amazing

Centaurus: 2/10 this would probably offend the actual centaurs

Cepheus: 5/10 total emo recluse name

Cetus: 7/10 short and snappy, perfect for an overbearing father

Chamaeleon: 4/10 I could totally see them using this out of pure spite

Circinus: 3/10 at best a great-grandfather, otherwise horrible

Columba: 8/10 would be a soft and gentle older sister

Coma Berenices: 0/10 too many syllables and has coma in the name

Corona Australis: 0/10 too specific

Corona Borealis: 0/10 see above

Corvus: 10/10 the ultimate emo boi name

Crater: 8/10 would play beater on the house team

Crux: 8/10 definitely a middle child with something to prove

Cygnus: 8/10 a daddy you don’t want to mess with

Delphinus: 6/10 the secretive bastard daughter who has inherited angst

Dorado: 2/10 too many Os

Draco: 10/10 Draco Malfoy adopted by the Blacks AU vibes

Equuleus: 5/10 too many Us, other could be good for a grandfather

Eridanus: 5/10 if you place the emphasis on the i then it works, otherwise not

Fornax: 3/10 probably sounds cooler than the person with the name actually is

Gemini: 4/10 youngest child energy

Grus: 6/10 people would think it’s a nickname then be surprised it’s their real name

Hercules: 9/10 though it would probably end up being used be someone with extremely supremacist views, ruining the name for everyone else

Horologium: 0/10 imagine introducing yourself as ‘watch’

Hydra: 6/10 would defiantly be the younger brother of Hercules

Hydrus: 5/10 either the worse version of Hydra or the better version

Indus: 4/10 coloniser vibes

Lacerta: 9/10 absolutely the daughter that ran away from the family becuase she loved a Muggle

Leo: 10/10 I’m biased

Leo Minor: the inferior sibling of Leo

Lepus: 1/10 sound too much like Leper

Libra: 4/10 Le Bruh Black

Lupus: 8/10 Lupin gets adopted by the Blacks AU vibes

Lynx: 6/10 you think they’re gonna be all edgy and intimidating but they’re actually soft and apologetic for their crazy name

Lyra: 9/10 pure spice, I love it

Mensa: 0/10 I can’t think of anything I like about it

Microscopium: 0/10 like, BRUH, why

Monoceros: 6/10 the Uncle that’s a bit too into blood purity and duelling

Musca: 2/10 I- I mean, really?

Norma: 5/10 the boring and unremarkable young sister

Octans: 7/10 I could see it being used as the name of an aide

Ophiuchus: 0/10 horrible

Orion: 10/10 it’s perfect

Pavo: 4/10 that cousin you only see once every few years and aren’t quite sure how you’re related

Pegasus: 8/10 kinda heroic, I could see this being used for a main character

Perseus: 7/10 same comment as above, just a weaker version of it

Phoenix: 8/10 the hot headed brother, though given that phoenixes are real it’s kinda like naming your child cheetah

Pictor: 1/10 if a black family member ever became a grave digger, it would be Pictor

Piscis: 3/10 could be worse. I imagine this child would be mostly forgotten about though

Piscis Austrinus: 1/10 the worse version of Picsis

Puppis: 6/10 excitable younger sibling energy

Pyxis: 8/10 a name for a younger sibling who reads a few too many dark magic books

Reticulum: 1/10 horrible. Absolutely horrible

Sagitta: 7/10 people would think it’s a nickname for Sagittarius, but it actually works on its own

Sagittarius: 5/10 could just use Sagitta as a nickname

Scorpius: 9/10 almost as emo as Corvus. Almost.

Sculptor: 3/10 I could see them using it as the name of an ancestor who lived before the 17th cenfury

Scutum: 1/10 sounds too much like scrotum. Anyone who would be named this would have anger issues

Serpens: 3/10 sounds incomplete

Sextans: 3/10 in the same boat as Sculptor

Taurus: 10/10 absolutely perfect for a Father or Uncle that is an amazing duellist and is mad when his son isn’t

Telescopium: 0/10 hmm yes I would like to seeeeeee

Triangulum: 0/10 triangulate a better name

Triangulum Australe: 0/10 no that’s worse

Tucana: 8/10 either an adoring mother or the youngest brother

Ursa Major: 4/10 good older twin name

Ursa Minor: 4/10 good younger twin name

Vela: 5/10 I could see this being used, but it would cause problems with the Veela community

Virgo: 6/10 but only if pronounced as Vir(j)o Black instead of Vir(g)o Black

Volans: 6/10 semi-decent, but definitely not the oldest child

Vulpecula: 3/10 any child named this will immediately become angry

#Lord help me #black #black family #Sirius black #regulus black #Harry Potter #marauders #constellations #IAU designated Constellations #stars #space #I will add more from other lists later

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starfata · 9 months

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Star Names

I have, once again, gotten into Harry Potter fanfiction. To be specific, Rigel Black chronicles recursive fanfiction.

So I'm making my way through wikipedia, going through the constellations and star names, making notes on the ones that are most Given Name-like, ignoring the ones that are after 1980 (quite a few), and noting the ones that might still be too modern/muggle for the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black.

Then I bought a book called Star Names, their Lore and meaning by Richard Hinckley Allen* and went through that. Given how confusing the book is to me, and how it includes poetical names as well as designations, I've marked the beginning of his contributions with *, the end with (RHA).

After all that work, I may as well share it.

Organised by Constellation, the genitive, and sometimes the constellation's abbreviation. Then the names of stars, which I haven't sorted at all. I used the Caelum constellation as a cutoff, which was something like 1756, which cut out suprisingly little compared to the post 1990 cutoff. The IAU has been Busy the last few decades, so many wonderful star names...

Too modern list

Nahn (1971)

Navi, Regor, Dnoces- (before 1967, by astronaut Gus Grissom)

Kaffa, Kruz, Haris, Heze, Ksora, Tyl, Achird (1950's)

Avior (1930's)

Miram (20th Century)

Leaena (Lioness, Leo Minor 1870)

Pulcherrima (loveliest, sometime before 1864)

Miaplacidus (1856) *(Maiaplacidus in 1835 typo) (RHA)

*Libella, (Norma, post 1840) (RHA)

Malus (Mast), proposed constellation, 1844

*Debilissima- Vega star, 1823 (RHA)

*Norma Nilotica- 1822 (RHA)

Noctua- Noctuae (owl, 1822)

Rotanev, Sualocin (1814)

Dalim (1803/1814)

Felis (cat, 1799) *Faelis (RHA)

*Niveau (Norma, 1776) (RHA)

The List

Andromeda- Andromedae (myth, princess) *The Woman Chained, Mulier Catenata, Persea (wife of Perseus), Cepheis (daughter of Cepheus), Virgo Devota (a scholiast), (Asnade, Alarmalah, Antamarda,) *Almara- sea calf(RHA)

Stars- Alpheratz/Sirrah/Sirra, Mirach/Mizar/Mirac/Merach, Almach, Nembus, Adhil, Almak, Manus Catenata, *Mirax/Mirath, Ventrale, Miyan (Persian)/Artulosia (Coptic)/Wabir (Khorasmian)- well mouth (RHA)

Antlia- Antliae (air pump)

Apus- Apodis (bird of paradise), *Apous, Avis, (RHA)

Aquarius- Aquarii (water carrier), *le Verseau, Amphora, Diota, Juvenis, Ganymedes, Puer Idaeus, Iliacus, Aristaeus, Cecrops, Hydridurus, Idrudurus, Hauritor Aquae, Imma, Monius, Eldelis, Daulo, Dolium, Aquary, Aquarye, Effusor, Eusor Aquae, Eluvius Aquarri,(RHA)

Stars- Sadalsund Rucbah, Sheat, El Melik, Lucida Fortunae Fortunarum, Hydor, Albali, Ancha, Situla, Albulaan, *Urna, Bunda, Kalpeny, Alpin, Mantile, Mantellum, Sidus Eastrum Regis (RHA)

Aquila- Aquilae (eagle) *Aigle (French) Adler (German), Jovis Ales (bird of Jove), Jovis Armiger (armor bearing of Jove), Merops (King of Cos), Vultur Volans, Flying Grype, possibly Erign (Euphratean, powerful bird), possibly Muru (Persian, bird) (RHA)

Stars- Aquila Tarazed, Alshāin, Deneb el Okab, *Atair, Alcair, Alcar, Althar, Althair, Attair, Alchayr, Gherges, Neshr, Alshain (RHA)

Ara - Arae (altar) *Altare (Italy) Antel and Encensoir (France), Ara Thymiamatis, Thymele (Altar of Dionysus), Arala, Apta Altaria, Acerra (altar where perfume burned for dead), Batillus (incense pan), Focus, Lar (hearth), Vesta. Pharus, Piteus (pit), (RHA)

Aries- Arietis (ram) *Ariete (Italy), Bèlier (France) Widder (Germany), Wider, Bamm (Anglo-saxon), Multans (Anhlo-Norman. 12th C), Phrixea Ovis, Phrixus, Athamas, Cornus, Corniger, Laniger, Vervex, Arcanus, Montone, Tèli (Hebrew), Amru/Emru (Syrian), Bara/Bere/Berre (persian), Kriya (Greek) (RHA)

Stars- Hamal, Sheratan, Mesarthim, Lilii Borea, *Hammel, Arnum, Padevar, Shalisha (RHA)

Auriga- Aurigae (charioteer) *Wainman, Cocher (French), Cocchiere (Italian), Fuhrmann (German), Hyginus, Heniochus, Erichthonius, Erechtheus, Erichtonius, Myrtilus, Cillas, Trethon, Bellerophon, Phaëthon, Aurigator, Arator, Mavors (Mars), Maforte, Ophiultus, Mafurtius (RHA)

Stars- Capella, Haedus/Hoedus Maaz, *Alhaior, Alanac, Alanat, Alioc, Capra, Gaper, Hircus, Crepa, Olenia, Olenie, Olenium, Cabrilla (Spain), Chevre (France), Alathod, Atud, Alcahela, Menkalina, Menkalinam, Aurigae Manns, Haedi, Dolones, Stimulus, (RHA)

Boötes- Boötis (ox/herdsman) *Bouvier (French), Bootis, Bootres, Arator, Boetes, Clamans, Clamator, Plorans, Alhava, Herdsman, Artophilaxe, Gustos, Arctni Custos, Lyacon, Areas, Sepentrio, Atlas, Philomelns, Nimrod, Icarus, Icarius, Cheguius, Chegininus, Thegius, Bubulus, Sabazius, Carman, Lanceator, Ogka (RHA)

Stars- Arcturus, Izar, Mizar, Mirak, Muphrid, Lancea Lanceator, Seginus, Ceginus, Princeps, *Aramec, Arcturi, Gladius, Kolanza, Pugio, Asad, Audiens/Audens. Artue, Arthurns, Arturis, Ariture, Arctuzona, Arctur (German), Arturo (Italian, Spanish),Mufrid, Mufride, Asellus, Clava, Inkalunis, Kalurns, Incalurus, Merga, Marrna, Falx Italica (RHA)

Caelum- Caeli, abbr Cael- Chisel *Burin (French), Bulino (Italian), Praxiteles

Cancer- Crab, *Litoreus, Astacus, Cammarus, Nepa, Lernaeus, Sartono

Stars- *Acubene, Azubene, Cirros, Cirrus, Flagella, Sartan, Sertan, Asini, Aselline, Elnatret, Nubilum, Nebulosa, Presepe, Pesebre, Mellest, Mallephon, Ermelia, Tegmine, Tegmen, Piatos (RHA)

Canes Venatici- Canum Venaticorm (hunting dogs) *Chiens du Chasse, Levriers (French), Jaghunde (German), Levrieri (Italian) (RHA)

Stars- Cor Caroli (Charles' heart), Asterion, Chara (joy), *Catuli, Coeur de Charles (French), Cnor di Carlo (Italian), Herz Earls (German), La Superba (RHA)

Canis Major- Canis Majoris (greater dog), *Canis, Canicula, Erigonaeos, Icarius, Sirion, Syrius Dexter, Magnus, Secundus, Alter, Sequens, Kelbo Gavoro, Greip (RHA)

Stars- Sirius, Sothis, Adara/Udara/Adhara, Wezen/Weseb, Aludra, Mirzam, Mirza * Serins, Latrator Anubis, Halabor, Gabbar, Ecbar, Habor, Sira, Vanand, Sivinam, Elseiri, Elsere, Sceara, Scera, Elchabar, Aschere, Alsere, Thoth, Sihor, Sothi, Solechin, Hannabeah (barker, Phoenician), Murzin, Adard, Udra (RHA)

Canis Minor- Canis Minoris (lesser dog) *Praecanis, Procanis, Gatellus, Catulus, Canis Orionis, Erigonins, Argion Ascemie, Algameisa, Fovea, Morns, Alchamizo, Alasgar, Dog of Tobias (RHA)

Stars- Procyon, Antecanis, Elgomaisa, Gomeisa, *Procion/Prochion, Siair, Siami, Aschemie, Algomeysa, Algomeyla, Algomeiza, Algomisa, Algomiza, Algomyso, Pallika, Palura, Gomeiza, (RHA)

Capricornus- capricorni (horned goat) *Capricorno (Italian) Steinbock (German), Bucca/Buccan Horn (Anglo Saxon), Gaper, Hircus Corniger, Capra ilia Amalthea, Pelagi Procella (ocean storm), Imbrifer (rain bringing one), Gelidus, Athalpis, Aegoceros, Alcaucurus, Alcantaras, Elgedi, Gadio, Mendes, Azazel, Oxirinque, Akokera, (RHA) Stars- Nashira

Cassiopeia (myth, princess)* Cassiope, Cassiepeia, Cassiepia, Carion, Mulier Sedes, Sedes, Sella, Solium, Inthronata, Cerva (a roe), Jostandis (girdle) (RHA)

Stars- Schedar, Caph, Rucba, Rucbar, Segin* Shedar, Schedir, Shedis, Zedaron, Chaph, Ruchbah (RHA)

Centaurus- Centauri (centaur)* Minotaurus, Peleanor, Pelethronius, Chiron/Chyron, Philyrides, Phililyrydes, Sonipes, Asemarik, Asmeat, Albeze, Albezze, Albizze, Birdun, Arma (RHA) Stars- Rigil Kentaurus, Toliman, Hadar, Agena, Menkent, Alnair

Cepheus- Cephei (myth)* Cēphēe (French), Cefeo (Italian), Vir regius, Regulus, Flammiger, Incensus, Cantans, Sonans, Kankaus, Kifaūs, Phicares, Phicarus, Caicans, Chipus (RHA) Stars- Errai, Arrai *Alderamin, Alfirk, Ficares, Garnet Star, Castula (RHA)

Cerburus * Cerbero (Italian), Ramo (the branch), Rameau et Cerbere (French) (RHA)

Cetus- Ceti (myth, sea monster)* Baleine (French), Balaena (Italian), Wallfisch (German), Pristis, Pristix, Cete, Belua (beast), Elketos, Elkaitos (RHA) Stars- Diphda, Menkar, Mira, Collum Ceti, Stella Mira, * Monkar, Difda, Rana Secunda, Boten, Dheneb, Schemali (RHA)

Circinus- Circini (compass)* Zirkel (German), Compasso (Italian), Compass (French) (RHA)

Columba- Columbae, abb Colm, (Dove)* Columba noae (Noah's dove), Colomba (Italian) Taube (German) (RHA) Stars- Phact, Phaet, Phad

Coma Berenices (myth, Berenices hair) * Chavelure (French), Chioma (Italian), Haupthaat (German), Ariadne's Hair, Crines, Capilli, Cincinnus, Trica, Tricas, Tericas, Rose Wreath, Ivy Wreath, Rosa (RHA) Stars- Diadem

Corona Borealis (northern crown) *Corona Borea, Ariadnea Corona, Corona Ariadnae, Corona Ariadnes, Cessa Corona, Corona Gnosida, Corona Cretica, Gnossis, Minoia Corona, Diadema Coeli, Oculus, Maera, Naxius, Ardor, Parma, Alphena, Caer Arianrod, (RHA) Stars- Alphecca, Gemma, Ashtaroth, Gnosia (knowledge), Nusakan *Munir, Munic, Gema, (RHA)

Corona Australis (southern crown) *Corona Austrina/Meridiata/Meridionalis/Notia, Südliche Krone (German), Couronne Australe (French), Centaur's Crown, Rota Ixionis, Coelum, Coelulum, Corolla, (RHA) Stars- Alphecca Meridiana (Alphecca South)

Corvus- Corvi (crow/raven) *Raven, Rabe (German), Corbeau (French), Corvo, Phoebeius Ales, Avis Eicarius, Emansor, Pomptina (RHA) Stars- Gienah, Gienah Ghurab, Algorab, Alchiba

Crater- Crateris (cup) *Coupe (French), Becher (German), Tazza (Italian), Cratera, Creter, Uma, Calix, Scyphus, Poculum, Alhas, Alker, Elkis, Patera, Elvarad, Pharmaz, Alkes, Alhes (RHA)

Crux- Crucis (cross) *Crur, Kreuz (German), Croce (Italian), Croix (French) Croisade, Mandorla, El Crucero, Crosier, Crusero, Crosers, Cruzero (RHA) Stars- Mimosa

Cygnus- Cygni (swan) *Cygne (French), Cigno (Italian), Cisne (Spanish), Schwan (German), Ales, Avis, Volucris, Olor, Myrtilus, Adige, Hyresym, Galina (RHA) Stars- Deneb, Arided, Ardidif, Arrioph (Gallina, Rosemund in poetry), Sadr, Sador, Aljanah, Al Janah, Fawaris, Albireo *Arion, Alberio, Abbireo, Albeiro, Hierizim, (RHA)

Delphinus- Delphini (dolphin) *Dauphin (French) Delfino (Italy), Delphin (Germany), Delphis, Delphyn, Delphyne, Dolphyne, Curvus, Persuasor, Smon, Hermippus, Acestes, Zizumara, Dulfin, (RHA) Stars- Dzaneb al Delphin, Cauda Delphini

Dorado- Doradus (dolphin fish) *Dorade (French), Xiphias,

Draco- Draconis (dragon) *Drache (German), Dragone (Italian, Anguis, Coluber, Python, Audax, Arctoe et Draco, Monstrum, Maximus Anguis, Ladon, Tanem, (RHA) Stars- Eltanin, Rastaban, Asuia, Alwaid, Aldib, Altais, Edasich, Thuban, Adib, Grumium, Nodus Primus, Erakis, Kuma, Giausar/Gianfar, Giansar, Giauzar, Dsiban, Dziban, Alsafi, Athāfi, Arrakis, Errakis, Al Rakis, *Etanin, Aben, Taben, Alanin, Altanino, Daban, Taeban, Adive, Eddib, Rastaben, Asvia, Rasaben, Etanim, Jais, Genam, (RHA)

Equuleus- Equulei (pony) *The Foal, Eculeus, Cavallino (Italian), Celeris, Cyllarus, Hinnulus, Rosa Mystica, (RHA)

Stars- Kitalpha, Kitalphar

Eridanus- Eridani (myth, river) *Eridan (French), Eridano (Italian), Amnis, Flumen, Fluvius, Padis Nilus, Gyon, Mulda, Melo, Vardi, Guad, Guagi, Alvahar, Nar, Nahar (RHA)

Stars- Archernar/Achenar, Acamar, Cursa/Kursa, Dhalim, Postrema Fluminis, Zaurak/Zaurac, Theemim, Theemin, Beemin, Azha, Beid, Angetenar, Zibal *Ecnar, Acarnar, Sulcus (RHA)

Fornax- Fornacis- the furnace/brazier

Gemini- Geminorum (twins) *Gemelli (Italian), Gēmeaux (French), Ledaei Fratres, Anaces, Algeuze, Elgeuzi, Gieuz, Apollo and Hercules, Triptolemus and Iasion, Theseus and Pirithoüs, Alioure, Duo Pavones (RHA)

Stars- Castor, Pollux, Muekher al Dzira, Alhena, Almeisan, Calx, Nuhuta, Tejat, Mebsuta, Propus, Praepes, Alzirr, Alzir *Almisan, Almeisam, Melaeta, Mebusta, Meboula, Menita, Mesoula, Propus Praepes, Tropus (RHA) *Castor- Eques, Apollo, Alefar, Aphelion, Aphellan, Avellar, Avelar, Anelar, Theseus, Phoebus, Algueze. (RHA) *Pollux- Polluces, Pugil, Aracaleus, Iracleus, Garacles, Rasalgeuze.(RHA)

Grus- Gruis (crane) *Le Groe (French), der Kranich (German)(RHA) Stars- Alnair

*Phoenicopterus- The flamingo. Bittour, Bittern (RHA)

Hercules- Herculis (myth, hero,), *Ercole (Italian), Melkarth, Engonasi, Engonasis, Engonasin, Gencenixus, Ingeniclus, Ingelicla Imago, Procidens, Saltator, Clavator, Claviger, Nessus, Nisus, Malica, Melica, Melicerta, Melicartes, Aper Cemuator, Ceteus, Alcides, Almannus, Celticus, Pataeus, Maceris, Desanaus, Desanes, Dorsanes, Ixion, Prometheus, Thamŷris, Oetaeus, Sanctus, Theseus, Melius, Ovillus, Diodas, Manilius, Orpheus, Trapezius, Temuelles, Samson, Elhathi, Alchete, Alcheti, Algethi, Row of Pearls (RHA)

Stars- Ruticulus, Rasalgethi, Masym, Misam, Sarin, Maasym, Marsic, Marfik, Marfak *Rutilico, Korneforos, Ras Algiatha, Ras Algetta, Marsia, Mirfac, Marfic, Masini, Mazym, Mazim, Gaiam, Guyam, Cujam (RHA)

*Horologium- pendulum clock, Orloge (French), Orologio (Italy), Pendeluhr (German) (RHA)

Hydra- Hydrae (myth, monster) *Hydre (French), Nepa, Nepas, Hydros, Hidra, Idra, Ydra, Idrus, Asina, Asnia, Asvia, Coluber, Echidna, Furiosus, Magnanimus, Lieu (RHA)

Stars- Alphard, Alfard *Alpherd, Alphrad, Alphora, Cor Hydrae, Collum Hydrae, (RHA)

Hydrus- Hydri (lesser water snake)

Lacerta- Lacertae (lizard) *Lēzard (French), Eidechse (German), Eidexe, Stellio (Stellion Newt)(RHA)

Leo- Leonis abbr Leon (lion) *Leone (Italian), Leun (Anglo-Norman), Nemeaus, Artān, Aryē, Asad, Alasia, Aleser, Asis, Assid, Alasado, Asid, Ellesed, Alezet, Leya, Leyaya (RHA)

Stars- Regulus, Denebola, Algieba/Juba, Zosma, Zozma, Zozca, Zosca, Dhur, Algenubi, Chertan, Chort, Coxa, Adhafera, Aldafera, Adhafara, Subra, Rasalas, Alteris, *Rex, Sharru, Miyan, Musu, Basilica Stella, Begia, Basilicus, Cor Leonis, Kale Alased, Achir, Nian, Nebulasit, Alesit, Nebollasid, Dafira, Asumpha, Serpha, Mutatrix, Avdem, Asphulia, Algieb, Zubra, Alterf

Leo Minor- Leo Minoris (lesser lion) *Leoncino (Italian) (RHA)

Stars- Praecipua*/Praecipna (RHA)

Lepus- Leporis (Hare) *Lepues, Haee (German), Lebre (Portugese), Lepre (Italian), Lièvre (French), Lepus Auritus/Levipes/Velox, Alaraebet, Elarneb, Hameb, Arnebeth (RHA)

Stars- Arneb, Arsh, Nihal

Libra - Librae- Scales *Bilancia (Italian), Peise (Anglo Norman), Zichos, Jugum, Noctipares, Mochos, Astraea, Tulam, Tolam, Almisan, Almizen, Mizin (RHA)

Stars- *Mizan, Aliemin, Zaban, Fasarivas (RHA)

Lupus- Lupii (wolf) *Wolff (German), Lupo (Italian), Loup (French) Bestia, Fera, Hostia, Hostiola, Panthera, Fera Lupus, Leaena, Martius, Lupa, Lycisca, Belua (RHA)

Stars- Kekouan

Lynx- Lyncis *Lynx sibe Tigris (Lynx or Tiger), Linx (French), Lince (Italian), Luchs (German) (RHA)

Lyra- Lyrae (Lyre, harp) *Leier (Germany), Lira (Italy), Clara Fides Cyllenea, Mercurialis, Cithara, Apollinis, Orphei, Orphica, Fidicen, Canticum, Aquilaris, Sangue, Mesanguo, Asange, Asenger, Azzango, Asanja, Arnig, Aznig, Brinex, Harapha, Hearpe, Harpa, Talyn Arthur, Albegala ange Albegalo, Lutaria, Marino, Testudo, Galapago, Testa Pupilla, Nablon, Nablium, Allore, Alloure, Alchoro, Lura (RHA)

Stars- Vega, Fidis, Lucida Lyrae *Fides, Fidicula Vuega, (RHA)

Mensa- Mensae (table)

Microscopium- *Neper (the auger), Bohrer, (RHA)

Monoceros- Monocerotis (unicorn) *Liocorno (Italy), Cervus, (RHA)

Musca- Muscae (fly) *Abeille (French), Mosca (Italian) (RHA)

Norma- Normae (carpenter's level) *Norma et Regula (the level and square), Quadra Euclidis, Lineas (Germany) (RHA)

Octans- Octanis (Octant, predecursor to sextant), *Octant, Ottante (Italian), Oktant (German)

Ophiuchus- Ophiuchi (myth, serpent bearer) *Ophiuchuls vel Serpentsrius, Ofiuco (Italian), Serpentaire (French), Ophiulchus, Ophiultus, Serpentiger, Serpentiharius, Anfuifer (RHA) Stars- Sabik. Cheleb, Celbarai, Kelb Alrai, Alrai, Sinistra, Muliphen, Marfic, Marfik, *Arangue, Alange, Rasalange, Alangue, Azalange, Alhague (RHA)

Orion- Orionis (myth, hunter) *Oarion, Aorion, Argion, Dianae Amasius, Comes Dianae, Jugula, Jeuze, Sugia, Asugia, Audax, Bellator, Fortis, Fortisisimus (RHA) Stars- Rigel, Algebar, Elgebar, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Alnilam, Saiph, Meissa, Rekbah al Jauza al Yemrniat, Tabit, *Mirzam, Gula, Klaria (greek, armlet), Begel, Riglon, Algauza, Mintaka, Mintika, Zona, Ensis, Ell, Manica, Thabit (RHA)

Pavo- Pavonis (peacock) *Pavone (Italian), Faon (French), Pfau (German) (RHA) Pegasus- Pegasi *Pegase (French), Pegaso (Italian), Melanippe, Menalippe, Theano, Cornipes, Alatus, Pegasides (RHA) Stars- Enif, Enir, Scheat, Seat Alpheras, Markab, Salm, *Artulos, Algemo, Enf, Homam (RHA)

Perseus- Persei (myth, hero), *Perseo (Italian), Persēe (France), Parasiea, Profugus, Cyllenius, Alove (RHA)

Stars- Alcheb, Mirphak, Misam, Atik, Ati, Demon star/Algol/Gorgona/Gorgonea, *Algenib, Chenib, Mirzue, Alove, Gorgonis Ora (RHA)

Phoenix, *Phènix (French), Fenice (Italian), Phönix (German) (RHA) Stars- Phoenicis, Cymbae

Pictor- Pictoris (easel)

Pisces- Piscium (fish) *Pesci (Italian), Poissons (French), Fixus (Anglo Saxon), Peisnn (Anglo Norman), Echiguen, Ichiguen, Aquilonicus, Aquilonaris, Nuni, Celeste Lasca, Dercis, Dercetis, Dercrete, Phaecetis, Dagiotho, Dione, Hermidone, Ittha/Anta/Titu/Mina/Minam (Tamil) (RHA)

Stars- Alpherg, Alrischa, Alrescha, Alrisha, Kaitain, Okda, Samaka/Samakah, * Desmos, Vincla, Kuton, (RHA)

Piscis Austrinus (southern fish) Formalhaut *Fomahant, Phomelhant, Phomant (RHA)

Pyxis/Pyxis Nautica- Pyxidis (mariner's compass), *Boussole (French), Bussola (Italian) (RHA)

Saggitarius- Sagittarii (archer), *Sagittiger, Sagittary, Sagitar, Scytta (Anglo Saxon), Crotos, Croton, Arcus, Pharetra,(RHA)

Stars- Kaus Australis (southern bow), Thalith al Warida (3rd of Warida), Sadira, Ascella

Scorpius- Scorpii (scorpion), * Scorpio, Scorpios, Hacerab, Scorpioun, Escorpiun (Anglo Norman), Throwend (Anglo Saxon), (RHA)

Stars- Antares, Cor Scorpii, Vespertilio, Satevis, Shaula, Larawag, Sargas, Acrab, Elacrab, Graffias, Lesath, Lesuth, Apollyon, *Insidiata, Antar, Iclil, Stephani (crown, coptic), Venand, Shauka, Mosclek, Shomlek, Sarur (RHA)

Sculptor- Sculptoris Serpens- Serpentis (serpent), *il Serpente (Italy), Anguilla, Anguis, Caesius, Laocoön, Serpens, Herculeus, Serpentis Lernaeus, Draco Lesbius, Tiberinas (RHA) Stars- Alga, Alya,

Taurus- Tauri (bull), * il Toro (Italy), le Taureau (France), der Stier (Germany), Portitor, Proditor, Europae, Agenoreus, Tyrius, Inachis, Cornus, Altor, Ataur, Altauro, Tora, Fearr (Anglo Saxon) (RHA)

Stars- Elnath, Aldebaran, Ain, Oculus Boreas, Hyadum, Cleeia, Kleeia, Ruby Star, *Aldebara, Aldeboran, Debiron, Atin, Hain Altor, Baharu (RHA)

Pleiades, *Peren, Parur, Perven, Pervis, Parviz, Parwin, Parven, Pliades, Plias, Peleiades, Sette Palommielle (7 Dovelets), Butrum, Vergiliae, Signatricia Lumina, Hedperides, Griglean, Grioglachan, Plejadi (Italy), Plejaden (Germany), Atorage, Athoraiae, Athorace, Altorich, Neith, Gallinelle, Gallinella, Crannarain (RHA)

Stars- Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygeta/Taygete, Celaeno/Celeno, Pleione, Asterope/Sterope, *Alcione, Alcinoe, Altione, Altorich, Athorric, Pleias, Mea, Maya, Maija, Electa, Atlantiz, Plione (RHA)

Hyades- Stars- *Kleea, Eudora, Koronis, Phaeo, Phaesula, Aesula/Pedile, Ambrosia, Dione, Thyene/Thyone, Polyxo, Phyto, Paricilicium (RHA)

Triangulum- Triangle, *Dreieck (German), Triangolo (Italian), Deltoton, Deltotum, Delta, Nilus, Trigonum, Trigonus, Triangula, Trigon, Tricuspis, Triquetrum, Trinity, Sicilia, Trinacria, Triquetra, Mutlatun (RHA)

Triangulum Australe- Southern Triangle Stars- Atria, Betria, Gatria

Tucana- Tucanae- Toucan, *Toucana, Touchan, Tukan (German), Toucano (Italian) (RHA)

Ursa Major- Ursae Majoris (great bear) *Orsa Maggiore (Italian), Grande Ourse (French), Arctos, Arctoe, Arctoi, Kallisto, Lycaonia, Erymanthis, Maenalia Arctos, Maenalis, Parrhasis, Parrasis, Wain/Wagon, Arthur's Chariot, Charere (chariot), Amaxa, Aganna/Akanna/Ajala, Cateletto (Italian, bier), Carro, Càrreta, Wagon of Odin, Woden, Wuotan, Horwagen, Hurwagen, Vaynes, Triones, Sepentrio/Septemtrio, Benenas, Benath As, Ben et thasch, Cynosuris, Helice, Catuli (lapdogs), Grigirean, Crann, Casserole (French, sausepan) (RHA)

Stars- Alioth, Allioth, Aliath, Dubhe, Alkaid, Benetnasch, Mizar, Phecda, Phegda, Pheka, Phad, Tania Australis, Tania Borealis, Talitha, Megrez, Muscida, Alula Borealis, Alkaphra, Alphrika, Alcor *Dubb, Merak, Miraë, Phaed, Phekda, Aliot, Risalioth, Alabieth, Aliare, Aliore, Alcore, Mirach, Micar, Mirak, Mizat, Elkeid, Benenaim, Bennenatz, Benenacx, Beninax, Benenath, Benenatz, Ackiar, Ackaïr, Alchayr, Talita, Alula Borealis, Awla, Acola, Eques Stellula (little starry horseman), Alkor (RHA)

Ursa Minor, *Orsa Minore (Italy), Unosoura, Phoenice, Horne, Bocina (bugle), Bogina (boa), Rukab, Tramontane (RHA)

Stars- Alruccabah, Yildun, Vildiur, Yilduz, Gildun, Alasco, Pherkad, Pherkard, Polaris, Cynosura, Stella Maris, Phoenice, Tramontana, Angel Stern, Navigatoria, * Alrucaba, Ludentes, Ludiones, Vigiles, Pollaris, Nortes (Spaniards), Cinosura,

Virgo- Virginis (virgins)* Mæden (Anglo Saxon), Pulcele (AN), Arista, Aristae Puella, Spicafera Virgo Cereris, Irene, Pax, Concordia, Fortuna, Ano, Atargatis, Cybele, Diana, Minerva, Panda, Pantica, Thespia, Beltis, Belit, Eladari, Eleadari, Adrendesa, Sunbala, Sumbela, Bethulta (RHA)

Stars- Spica, Azimech, Almuredin, Vindemediator, Vindemiatrix, Auva, Minelauva, Zaniah, Syrma, Khambalia *Spicum, Spigha (Italian), Erigone, Arista, Khoritos, Acimon, Alaraph, Alaces, Alazel, Azimon, Azimech, Eleazalet, Zavijava, Zavijan, Ninsar, Porrima, Antevorta, Postvorta, Prosa, Prorsa, Alacast, Alcalst, Almucedie (RHA)

Volans- Volantis- flying fish

Vulpecula- Velpeculae (fox), * Vulpecula cum Ansere (,the little fox with the goose), Volpe Colla Oca (Italy), Fuchs, Füchschen (German), Petit Renard avec l'Oie, Vulpes, Vulpecula, (RHA) Stars- Anser

Argo Navis- Argus Navis (myth, ship) *Schiff (German), Navire Argo (French), *Nave Argo (Italian), Argolica Navis (Cicero), Ratis Heroun (Heroes raft), Navis Jasonis, Osiridis, Celox Jasonis, Curris Marris (sea chariot) (RHA)

Puppis- (poop deck) *Argoa Puppis (RHA)

Stars- Naos

Carina- Carinae (keel)

Stars- Canopus, Soheil, Soheila, Suhel, Wazn, Hadar, Aspidiske, Turais, Tureis, *Karbana, Suhilon, Subilon (RHA)

Vela- Velorum (sails) *Segel (German) (RHA)

Stars- Suhail, Alsephina

Former Constellations Anguilla- Anguillae (eel) Antinous/*Antnoüs- (historical person, god/hero) aka Ganymede, Puer Adrianaeus, Troicus, Pincerna, Pocillator, Phrygius (RHA)

Rosae (rose) Tigis- Tigridis (Tigris river) Siren and Ceneus (myth) Apis (bee) Aranea- Aranae (long legged spider) Apes- Apium (bees) Vespa- vespae (bees/wasps) Asselli and Praesep (myth,Dionyus's asses and manger) Bufo- Bufonis (toad) Capra and Haedi (myth,Goat Amalthea and kids) Cerberus- Cerberi Deltoton- delta Gallus- Galli (rooster) Hirudo (leech) Lilium- Lilii (Fleur de Lys) Manis (pangolin) Pinna Marina- Pinnae Marinae (mussel) Phaethon- (myth, river) Ramus Pomifer (apple bearing branch)

Asterisms- Pleiades, Hyades, Warida, Thalith, *Thronos of Caesaris, Tre Facelle, Al Mīzān (scale beam), Row of pearls, Nairn (Persian), Testudo, Eahne, (RHA)

Unsure of lists Ruby star, Garnet Star, Stella Maris, Hydrobius, *Necht (unidentified Egyptian constellation) Ina, Mere, Vena, Aumea, Nubilosa, Luminosa, Sirian, Aelian, Paria (RHA)

Zodiac- *Zodiacus, Orbis, Orbita Solis, Belteus Stellatus (starry belt), Fascia (band/milky way), Cerole (zodiac is Cerole of Bestes), Mielan circul Zodiacum (great zodiac circle, Anglo Saxon) (RHA)

Generic- Nebula, Asterism, Nova, Pulsar, Borealis, Australis, Astromeric, Astronomer, Lucida, Zenith, Astra, Astro, Cosmos, Celestial, Galaxy, Cluster, Pearl Cluster, *Trigon, Decans, Decania, Decane, Decanica, Degane, Deganae, Decima, Decani, Sidera, Signa, Constellatio, Stellatio, (RHA)

*Milky Way- Aroch, Arocea, Strazu, Hilde, Hulde, Veierveien, Maiarati (RHA)

#Harry potter #Noble and most ancient house of black #Star names #Character names #naming characters #Fanfiction #writing reference #House of black #rigel black chronicles #List #Fanfiction lists

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fairytail-whathesays · 6 months

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I think it'd be interesting if there were other Zodiac keys besides the 12 Golden Keys, solely for the sake of not having 10 out of 12 Golden Keys belonging to one character.

In the case of the Chinese Zodiac, there's 12 animals (13 if you count the cat) and 5 elements (fire, water, wood, earth, and metal). My idea for this set of keys would be 5 keys per animal, each having one of those 5 elements, for a total of 60 keys (65 if we're including the cat).

Personally, I'd give Lucy the Water Horse, Wood Snake, and Metal Dragon, and I'd give Yukino the Wood Rabbit, Earth Tiger, and Fire Rooster.

I've heard this sort of idea before, but I don't really think it cuts down on the core problem, which is one character just happening to stumble into 10 of the rarest keys on the planet. Turning 12 keys into 60 keys just makes them less rare rather than making Lucy feel like a genuinely cool wizard for the ones she does have.

She inherited Aquarius, Cancer, and Capricorn, and managed to find and contract Taurus on her own. By the end of the first arc, she has Virgo, has Sagittarius by the end of the third, and has three more by the end of the seventh arc, and the story's only half over. That's 2/3 of the golden keys before we even hit Edolas.

None of this really necessitates changing the keys or how many there are, but what would've helped might've been focusing more on silver keys. Mashima didn't really develop the gold keys that much, nor bother to make their powers all that impressive beyond Aquarius, Gemini, and sometimes Leo if you squint. We literally don't even know what Capricorn can do.

There are 88 constellations to choose from just in the IAU designated modern canon. Hell, if you wanted Lucy to take a more active role, you could've turned Crux from a literal cross that tells stories to a sword (a cross-shaped weapon). There's no reason for the celestial spirit we see by far the most of to have a rather anemic collection of silver keys while owning 90% of the super-rare Zodiac version.

#Lucy Heartfilia #writing criticism

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starsmapped · 10 months

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Doing some Carina constellation research for writing accuracy and I run across this: “Carina was once a part of Argo Navis, the great ship of Jason and the Argonauts who searched for the Golden Fleece. The constellation of Argo was introduced in ancient Greece. However, due to the massive size of Argo Navis and the sheer number of stars that required separate designation, Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille divided Argo into three sections in 1763, including Carina (the hull or keel). In the 19th century, these three became established as separate constellations, and were formally included in the list of 88 modern IAU constellations in 1930.“

I’m sure we all know POTC doesn’t have the best track record with accuracy (they called Carina a star when Technically it’s a constellation) but Carina was born in 1732...thirty years before the Carina constellation was even named 😭

#//this is what i get for trying to be a little bit accurate #𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐭 / / ooc

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themonotonysyndrome · 2 years

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papspsps i was wondering why we think vega is ancient due to his stars name/age? i’m a big astronomy nut and the nomenclature of stars don’t seem to be any correlation to the daemon/demon but i think you might be onto something with star age (however ariabourne are theoretically immortal so :/)

anyways enjoy some nomenclature facts about the currently named demons and daemons!

Caelum is actually pronounced similar to see-lehm and was first discovered in the 1750s and is still recognized as one of the 88 modern constellations!

Gavin (whos name is Vindemiator, the male form of the star name Vindemiatrix) is interesting. the star itself is Epsilon Virginis and was only officially recognized as Vindemiatrix around 6 years ago back in 2016! It’s original names were Alaraph, Provindemiator, Protrigetrix and Protrygetor which would mean if we went by nomenclature as coalescing date, Gavin at his oldest could only be 6 years old! barely!

The star Epsilon Carinae was only classified as Avior in the 1930s by an Air Almanac for the RAF so Avior could only be as old as about 92!

Camelopardalis was first attested in 1785 and the reason we call it the giraffe constellation is because the word giraffe comes from the two greek words for Camel and Spotted ("κάμηλος" (kamēlos)+ "πάρδαλις" (pardalis)) It was named such due to its camel like neck and their notable spots!

Regulus is the first daemon to break the ongoing nomenclature the DAEmons are named after constellations and DEmons are named after stars as Regulus is the name of Alpha Leonis, the brightest star in the constellation Leo and was named Regulus was first recognized as its official name at the same time as Vindemiatrix in 2016!

Crux, not Avior funnily enough, is the constellation described by Dante allegorically in his Divine Comedy as he describes an Asterism of 4 stars in the southern sky but Crux’s first distinguisher is quite the confounding one. There are roughly 6 people credited all at different times and due to the lack of proper graphing and drawings it’s hard to tell who got it right first. as early as 1455 or late as 1679.

Vega or Alpha Lyrae (Lyr) (my favorite star funny enough) was first star other than the Sun to have its image and spectrum photographed! Vega, originally Wega, originates from the Arabic word واقع (wāqi’) and means falling and was officially designated to this star in 2016!

The reason so many were named in 2016 is because in 2016, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) 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!

- ☆ anon

Oh my god, yes! Astronomy facts! Thank you so much for sharing these with us, Star Anon.

Saving them on the side if I ever in the mood for more headcanons about Vega~

#monotony's rambling #redacted asmr

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elstudiesphysics · 2 years

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Constellations and Asterims

[ID: a photo of the big dipper. The stars are just bright points, and some clouds are visible. End ID]

Today I thought I'd chat a bit about constellations because the above photo- the plough- is not a constellation!

It's actually an asterim, within the constellation ursa major.

Asterim: a recognisable pattern of stars, smaller than a constellation.

Constellation: a recognisable pattern of stars, traditionally named after a mythological figure, designated by the International Astronomical Union.

That's right, the International Astronomical Union is who we've got to blame for the declassification of Bufo the toad (and Pluto) 😔

There are 88 constellations altogether. And interestingly, despite most maps drawing constellations by connecting stars, the IAU defines a constellation by its boundaries.

Image from IAU's webpage

[ID: a grid showing a number of constellations, some fully and some cropped, including capricornus, scutum and sagitta. Centrally, is aquilla. It and some of the surrounding area is highlighted in white, while the rest of the image is greyed out. This shows the boundaries of that constellation. Around the edge of the grid are the scales for the angles these constellations are visible, and the scale for magnitude. End ID]

Constellations have a lot of historical significance, and were essential for navigation. Their importance in both of these aspects is lessened today, but they remain a convinient way of dividing the sky up for ease of navigating it.

#physics #physics student #physics studyblr #studyblr #physicsstudent #stem major #stem student #new studyblr #space #constellations #universe

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thevalleysbelow · 1 month

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Constellation of the day: the IAU designated constellations and their names

The IAU’s first General Assembly was held in Rome in 1922, and there the Commission on Notations and Units agreed on a list of 88 constellations covering the entire sky, with three-letter abbreviations of their Latin names, for everyone to have a common reference despite the existence of a number of different sky cultures. These are the 88 IAU constellations that are still recognised today.

In 1925, at the Second IAU General Assembly held in Cambridge, Eugène Delporte of the Royal Observatory in Brussels presented a clearly defined system of constellation boundaries drawn along lines of right ascension and declination (right a-what? I’ll explain in the next post. It’s the equivalent of longitude and latitude on Earth anyway).

Delporte was appointed to prepare some official boundaries for constellations, made in such a way that the variable stars remained in the constellation to which they were originally assigned.

So, nowadays constellations are indeed scientifically defined areas of sky. When saying a star or a cluster of stars or any celestial object is “in a certain constellation”, one means that the star can be found within certain boundaries on a sky map. It’s like saying that if we tell someone a certain town is in a certain state, we are implicitly stating that the town falls somehow under the jurisdiction of the capital of that state, even if it’s clearly separated from it. Still, it is enclosed in an imaginary closed line we call border, that is by convention associated to a city that is designated capital. Only, in our constellations cinematic universe every “state” takes the name of its “capital” (the actual dots-and-lines-constellation).

Now. Each IAU constellation name is in Latin and has two forms, nominative and genitive. Whoever is familiar with Latin or any other language that includes a case system probably knows what I’m talking about. For those who don’t, the nominative denotes a case of noun, pronoun, and adjectives used as a subject; the geinitive is another grammatical case that marks usually a noun, indicating its attributive relationship to another word. You could either masochistically learn to decline nouns in Latin up to the genitive for the sole purpose of having something to brag of to your friends, or know that the nominative is used to talk about the constellation itself, the genitive (the one that usually ends in -ae, -i, -is) to talk about something within the constellation. For example: in Latin “Centaur” is “Centaurus”, and Centaurus is the nominative. The genitive of Centaurus is Centauri (word that could be roughly translated as “belonging to the Centaur”). Hence we have the constellation Centaurus, and then the objects α Centauri, β Centauri, and so on.

You just need to type on the research bar of your favourite research engine “IAU constellations” to find some nice table of said constellations in alphabetical order with nominative and related genitive and three-letters abbreviation. As always, the IAU site surely is the best source.

This post ends here. Next time I’ll probably talk about celestial coordinates and related concepts. See ya!

~Ad Astra~

#constellation of the day #constellations #astronomy #astrophysics #science

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spacenutspod · 6 months

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The Fomalhaut system is nearby in astronomical terms, and it’s also one of the brightest stars in the night sky. That means astronomers have studied it intensely over the years. Now that we have the powerful James Webb Space Telescope the observations have intensified. The Fomalhaut system has a confounding and complex dusty disk, including a dusty blob. The blob has been the subject of an ongoing debate in astronomy. Can the JWST see through its complexity and find answers to the systems unanswered questions? Like all stars this bright, Fomalhaut has been known since antiquity. Its name comes from ancient Arabic and means “mouth of the <southern> fish.” That makes sense, since it’s in the Piscis Austrinus (Southern Fish) constellation. Its designation is HR 8728, but in 2016 the IAU officially named it Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus. Image Credit: By IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg) – [1], CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15412179 Fomalhaut is young, only around 440 million years old. But it’s consuming its hydrogen at a furious rate and may only last about one billion years. That’s not very long in a Universe where some stars will last for trillions of years. Fomalhaut has two close friends, the K-type main-sequence star TW Piscis Austrini, and the M-type, red dwarf star LP 876-10. Together they’re a trinary star system. In our modern age, astronomers have examined Fomalhaut and its complex disk. There’s something dense in the disk, and astronomers have struggled to identify exactly what it is. A team of researchers observed the Fomalhaut system with the JWST’s NIRCam instrument and coronagraph and published their results in the paper “Searching for Planets Orbiting Fomalhaut with JWST/NIRCam.” In 2008, astronomers discovered a planet orbiting Fomalhaut and it took the conventional name Fomalhaut b. Then in 2012 the Hubble confirmed the object with its Advanced Camera for Surveys. But since then, there’s been an ongoing debate about the object as different researchers examined the evidence and the Fomalhaut system. The idea that Fomalhaut b was an exoplanet has fallen out of favour. In 2012, Hubble Space Telescope observations seemed to confirm the existence of Fomalhaut b, but since then, the exoplanet hypothesis has fallen out of favour. Image Credit: NASA/HST Since then, the scientific consensus on the blob in the star’s disk is leaning away from the exoplanet hypothesis towards the idea that it’s a debris cloud. The debris could may have come from a collision between two exoplanets, and the cloud may be on an escape trajectory. One of the difficulties in understanding the system is all of the dust. It makes observations difficult. But the JWST was built for just this situation. It can see through dust much more effectively than other telescopes with its keen infrared vision. Webb’s strength lies in its pair of instruments and their filters. NIRCam can see through dust and can see ionized gas, while MIRI can see the dust itself. Add in their filters, and astronomers can “tune” the JWST to different parts of the infrared spectrum. This new research isn’t the first time the JWST has examined Fomalhaut. In May 2023, a team of researchers used the JWST’s MIRI to probe the complex dust environment around the star. They discovered a new intermediate dust belt that might be shepherded by an unseen planet. That research suggested that the blob, Fomalhaut b, could’ve originated in this belt. That research also found evidence for another dust-creating collision. “We also discovered a large dust cloud within the outer ring, possible evidence of another dust-creating collision,” the paper states. “Taken together with previous observations, Fomalhaut appears to be the site of a complex and possibly dynamically active planetary system.” This image shows how the JWST’s MIRI instrument identified a new intermediate gap in Fomalhaut’s complex dust ring. The two bottom panels show the newly-detected dust cloud in two of MIRI’s filters, and the upper panel shows the previously-discovered cloud that was once thought to be an exoplanet. Image Credit: Gaspar et al. 2023. The new research includes some of the same researchers, and this time they used the JWST’s NIRCam instrument to probe the complex dust ring in different wavelengths of infrared light. This pair of studies perfectly illustrates the JWST’s power and effectiveness. These new observations seem to put the nail in the coffin for the potential-exoplanet-formerly-known-as-Fomalhaut b. “Consistent with the hypothesis that Fomalhaut b is not a massive planet but is a dust cloud from a planetesimal collision, we do not detect it in either F356W or F444W (the latter band where a Jovian-sized planet should be bright),” the authors write. So it’s a final farewell to Fomalhaut b. Or is it? In the new observations with NIRCam and NIRSpec, the researchers detected 10 sources in the complex dusty rings. They’re consistent with coronagraphic images from the HST and the Keck Telescope. “We show them to be background objects, including the ‘Great Dust Cloud‘ identified in MIRI data,” they write. But one of the 10 objects has no counterpart in previous observations. It’s at the edge of the inner dust ring. This image from the research shows NIRCam’s findings lain over a MIRI image of the Fomalhaut’s dusty ring system. #7 is the newly-detected object, while the other objects were found with Keck and the HST. The dotted circle shows where Fomalhaut b should be, but NIRCam found no evidence of it. Image Credit: Ygouf et al. 2023. So what is #7? Is it the new Fomalhaut b? “What is most intriguing about this object, the only NIRCam object that cannot be immediately associated with a background source, is its proximity to the inner dust disk newly identified in the MIRI imaging,” the authors write. According to the research, if this is an exoplanet, it’s about the same mass as Jupiter. If it is a planet, “it should have substantial dynamical interactions with the inner debris disk,” they explain, but they don’t see any evidence of that in these images. “It will be important to address its possible effects on the structure of the inner disk if its planetary nature is confirmed,” they write. As this whole fascinating saga shows, confirming exoplanets in dusty rings like this is difficult. Yet it’s inside these rings that planet formation takes place, and there’s a lot we don’t know about the process. It’s one of the reasons the JWST was built. These JWST observations can’t confirm this new planet, but it may not be finished with the system yet. “Whether this object is a background galaxy, brown dwarf, or a Jovian mass planet in the Fomalhaut system will be determined by an approved Cycle 2 follow-up program,” the authors explain. Those observations will be longer duration, and that can help strengthen the signals and eliminate the noise in observations. That means smaller objects should be detectable, and “will push the detection limit from ~0.6 Jupiter masses down to ~0.3-0.4 Jupiter masses…?? The next round of JWST observations should either confirm or reject the existence of the “new” Fomalhaut b. “In addition to confirming (or rejecting) S7 as being associated with Fomalhaut, the Cycle 2 program might identify one or more of the planets expected to exist on the basis of the complex disk structure discovered in the MIRI results,” the authors conclude. The post JWST Searches for Planets in the Fomalhaut System appeared first on Universe Today.

#space #astronomy #news #science

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 7 months

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Massive low earth orbit communications satellites could disrupt astronomy

Observations of the BlueWalker 3 prototype satellite show it is one of the brightest objects in the night sky, outshining all but the brightest stars.

Astronomers have raised concerns that without mitigation, groups of large satellites could disrupt our ability to observe the stars from Earth and perform radio astronomy.

Several companies are planning ‘constellations’ of satellites – groups of potentially hundreds of satellites that can deliver mobile or broadband services anywhere in the world.

However, these satellites need to be in ‘low-Earth’ orbit and can be relatively large, so their potential to disrupt night-sky observations is a concern.

Now, an international team of scientists led by astronomers from the IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS) and including Imperial College London researchers, have published a paper in Nature assessing the detailed impact of the prototype BlueWalker 3 satellite on astronomy.

Dr Dave Clements, from the Department of Physics at Imperial, said: “The night sky is a unique laboratory that allows scientists to conduct experiments that cannot be done in terrestrial laboratories. Astronomical observations have provided insights into fundamental physics and other research at the boundaries of our knowledge and changed humanity’s view of our place in the cosmos. The pristine night sky is also an important part of humanity’s shared cultural heritage and should be protected for society at large and for future generations.”

Bright observations

BlueWalker 3 was launched into low-Earth orbit on 10 September 2022 by AST SpaceMobile, as a prototype for a planned constellation of over a hundred similar satellites intended for use in mobile communications. Observations taken within weeks of the launch showed that the satellite was among the brightest objects in the sky.

However, to better understand its effects on astronomy, the CPS initiated an international observing campaign. As part of this initiative, both professional and amateur observations were contributed from across the world, from sites in Chile, the US, Mexico, Aotearoa New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Morocco.

Documenting BlueWalker 3’s brightness over a period of 130 days, the newly released data show an abrupt increase coinciding with the complete unfolding of the antenna array, which at 64 square meters is the largest commercial antenna system ever deployed into low-Earth orbit.

A subset of the observations were also used to calculate the satellite’s trajectory over time. Comparing the predicted path with the observations collected, the authors were able to evaluate the accuracy of predictions and how this can change due to factors such as atmospheric drag.

Knowing the positions of the satellites is important, so astronomers can try to avoid them or at least know where they will be in the data. However, mitigating against the brightness is difficult beyond masking their position and losing data for that portion of the sky.

Radio interference

Besides visible observations, BlueWalker 3 could also interfere with radio astronomy, since it uses wavelengths close to those that radio telescopes observe in. While some telescopes are located within designated radio quiet zones, the restrictions in place to preserve these areas currently only apply to terrestrial transmitters, so they are not necessarily protected from satellite transmission.

Dr Mike Peel, co-lead of IAU CPS's Sathub and researcher in the Department of Physics at Imperial, said: "BlueWalker 3 actively transmits at radio frequencies that are close to bands reserved for radio astronomy, and existing observatory protections from radio interference may not be sufficient. Further research is therefore required to develop strategies for protecting existing and upcoming telescopes from the numerous satellites planned for launch over the next decade.”

The IAU and CPS partners recognize that the new satellite constellations have an important role in improving worldwide communications. However, their interference with astronomical observations could severely hamper progress in our understanding of the cosmos. Their deployment should therefore be conducted with due consideration of their side effects and with efforts made to minimize their impact on astronomy.

Observations of BlueWalker 3 will continue, with plans by astronomers to observe its thermal emission later this year. Astronomers will continue to discuss this topic at the upcoming IAU Symposium: Astronomy and Satellite Constellations: Pathways Forward in October.

IMAGE....Trail left by BlueWalker 3 over Observatorio Astronomico Nacional, San Pedro Martir, Mexico CREDIT I. Plauchu-Frayn

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics

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sciencespies · 1 year

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Asterisms: A beginner’s guide to unofficial star patterns

https://sciencespies.com/space/asterisms-a-beginners-guide-to-unofficial-star-patterns/

Asterisms: A beginner’s guide to unofficial star patterns

The sky is divided into 88 constellations of varying sizes. The areas are defined and controlled by a body known as the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The stars in each constellation create patterns representing creatures, both real and mythological, as well as inanimate objects.

Asterisms are unofficial patterns designed to help navigate the night sky. Anyone can suggest an asterism, but in order for it to stick, it has to become popular. Asterisms can contain stars from multiple or single constellations, and they can be huge or tiny.

Many asterisms are on view at this time of year. The Summer Triangle is a bold favourite formed from three bright stars from different constellations; Vega in Lyra the Lyre, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan and Altair in Aquila the Eagle. This large pattern is visible high, just west (right) of south at 9pm BST on 1 October, 8pm BST mid-month and 6pm GMT at the end of October.

The Summer Triangle is followed across the sky by the Great Square of Pegasus. This is another asterism formed using stars from different constellations, as technically the star Alpheratz in the northeast (upper-left) corner belongs to Andromeda the Chained Princess. The stars forming the square are middle-bright and the roughly square pattern has sides approximately 1.2 to 1.5 times the width of your clenched fist at arm’s length.

Look immediately below the Great Square to find another geometric shape, the Circlet asterism; bright Jupiter currently sits southeast (below-left) of it. This is formed from stars within Pisces the Fish and although not particularly bright, it is distinctive in a dark sky.

Right of the Circlet, is a group of four stars within Aquarius the Water Bearer, one at the centre and three spaced at 120° intervals around it. This is the Water Jar asterism, sometimes known as the Steering Wheel.