Zosma

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

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


Zosma
Asterism Info
Native
ζῶσμα
Translation
loin cloth or girdle
Position (2000)
Right ascension168.5270893
Declination20.52371814
Area0 sq. deg.
Stars
Bright stars1
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
1
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Brightest starZosma (2.53m)
Taxonomy
category
of asterism
IAU-Star Name
IAU-
constellations
Leo

Zosma is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Greek. It is the name of HIP 54872 (δ Leo, HR 4357) in constellation Leo.

Etymology and History

From the Greek word ζῶσμα, "girdle" or "loin cloth". In Renaissance times this word was erroneously said to have been used to describe δ Leo in a medieval Greek text. Correctly, the text has ὀσφῦς, "hip" or "lower back" (after Ptolemy). The name Zosma (transliterated from the erroneous Greek word) was applied in recent times.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/07/20.

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.