Pherkad

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann, Youla Azkarrula


Pherkad
Asterism Info
Native
فرقد
Translation
the Two Calves
Position (2000)
Right ascension230.182098
Declination71.83402545
Area0 sq. deg.
Stars
Bright stars1
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
1
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Brightest starPherkad (3.002m)
Taxonomy
category
of asterism
IAU-Star Name
IAU-
constellations
UMi

Pherkad is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Arabic. It is the name of HIP 75097 (γ UMi, HR 5735) in constellation UMi (Ursa Minor).

Etymology and History

Applied in recent times from the singular form of the ind-A asterism name al-farqadan, "the Two Calves", for β and γ UMi.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/08/21.

Reference

  • References (general)
  • Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub.