Buranun
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
Buranun is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is the Sumerian name for the river Euphrates. It is the name of the star 88 Psc (HIP 5824) in constellation Pisces.
Concordance, Etymology, History
The Sumerian term mul ídBURANUN (𒀯𒀀𒇉𒌓𒄒𒉣), equalling Akkadian purattu, Euphrates River, is a set of stars in the western portion of Pisces and Pegasus (Psc + Peg). It is an asterism in the ancient Mesopotamian constellation of The Tails, ZIB, originally The Tails of the Swallow (SIM.MAḪ).
The Euphrates River maintained its strong cultural significance over centuries and so it was also independently reinvented as a constellation name in early modern times. The Dutch cartographer Petrus Plancius created it on his 1612 celestial map, but it was rarely copied (unlike Tigris).
As Plancius did not write any documentation on his newly introduced constellations, we can only speculate about some likely biblical reference. Hints are given in his personal life as a clergyman, frequently persecuted because of his belief, and his biblical (geographical) maps (Plancius 1590), where the Jordan River is featured very similarly to the celestial illustration on his globe gores, and Tigris is depicted next to the Tree of Life in Eden.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was suggested to the IAU WGSN in 2023. The name was adopted for 88 Psc by the IAU WGSN in 2026.
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