Minkar

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Roland Laffitte

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Minkar and Alchiba in Laffitte (2025): Fig. 79a.  Κόραξ / Korax – al-Ġurāb, « le Corbeau » (RL) and Fig. 79b. al-Ḫibā’, « la Tente » (RL)

Minkar is an Arabic star name, originally for α Crv, later shifted to ε Crv.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Laffitte (2012, 2025) gives "Alchiba" for α Crv, which is the IAU-name, but then elaborates on p. 368:

ALTERNATIVE NAME for α Crv: 1. Minkar [Aus.]. Ar. منقار [الغراب] Minqār [al-Ġurāb], ‘the Raven’s Beak’, Uluġ Bēg > ‘Minkar AlGorâb’, Hyde. Minkar c/ Proctor via Ideler. 2. Minkar al Ghyrab. Ar. منقار الغراب Minqār al-Ġurāb, al-Aḫsāsī, hence ‘Minkar al Ghyrab’, Knobel, Minkar al Ghyrab, Wiki/enVar. : ‘Al Minḣar al Ghurab’, with the article omitted and /ḣ/ in place of the usual /ḳ/ (which is pronounced /q/), hence Al Minliar al Ghurab, Hoffleit, Nit. 01, Pultar, Wiki.

On page 330, Laffitte (2025) remarks for Minkar [Bor.] (ε Cor : 3,02) / [الغرب]منقار :

Recently used for this star, this name is a shortened form of Minqār al-Ġurāb, ‘the Raven’s Beak’, normally assigned, within the Greco-Arabic celestial system, to α Crv (see this star); shifted to ε Crv c/ Rhoads, etc., Simbad.