Mensa - Revision history

Sushoff at 21:01, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T21:01:08Z

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 ==Etymology and History==
 [[File:Lacaille text newConst1752 Men.JPG|alt=screenshot of text|thumb|Lacaille on Mensa 1752]]
 [[File:20240811 131538.jpg compressed-768x1024.jpg|alt=photograph|thumb|Table Mountain with table cloth (cloud) called "Cape Cloud" (SMH 2024).]]

Sushoff at 13:27, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:27:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:27, 20 January 2026
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			Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Mensa IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|IAU Mensa chart (CC0)]]		[[File:Mensa IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|IAU Mensa chart (CC0)]]
	Mensa, originally "Mons Mensae" (Table Mountain), is one of the 88 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Astronomical_Union IAU] constellations. There were no ancient (Babylonian, Greek or Roman) constellations in this area, so early modern astronomers created names in the southern hemisphere. The region has no bright stars, the brightest star α Mensae is 5.1 mag, and has thus not been subject to any [[wikipedia:Gestalt_psychology\|gestalt-seeing]].		Mensa, originally "Mons Mensae" (Table Mountain), is one of the 88 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Astronomical_Union IAU] constellations. There were no ancient (Babylonian, Greek or Roman) constellations in this area, so early modern astronomers created names in the southern hemisphere. The region has no bright stars, the brightest star α Mensae is 5.1 mag, and has thus not been subject to any [[wikipedia:Gestalt_psychology\|gestalt-seeing]].

Sushoff at 07:16, 25 January 2025

2025-01-25T07:16:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:16, 25 January 2025
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
			[[File:Lacaille text newConst1752 Men.JPG\|alt=screenshot of text\|thumb\|Lacaille on Mensa 1752]]
	[[File:20240811 131538.jpg compressed-768x1024.jpg\|alt=photograph\|thumb\|Table Mountain with table cloth (cloud) called "Cape Cloud" (SMH 2024).]]		[[File:20240811 131538.jpg compressed-768x1024.jpg\|alt=photograph\|thumb\|Table Mountain with table cloth (cloud) called "Cape Cloud" (SMH 2024).]]

	In the 1750s, the French surveyor and mathematician Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille was based in the trading station at the South African Cape of Good Hope that has developed into the city of Cape Town. He lived there for two years and measured positions of the land and the stars. In gaps of historical constellations, he invented new ones and named them after contemporary devices such as drawing tools, telescope, microscope, and a pendulum clock. The constellation of the Table Mountain seems to stand out as it is named after a geographical feature in Cape Town's landscape. However, Lacaille's reason is preserved in his [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k35505/f787.item 1756 report for the French Academy of Science]. <blockquote>''Enfin, j’ai mis au dessous du grand nuage la Montagne de la Table, célèbre au cap de Bonne-espérance par sa figure de table, et principalement par un nuage blanc qui la vient couvrir en forme de nappe à l’approche d’un vent violent de sud-est; d’ailleurs la pluspart des Navigateurs appellent nuages du Cap, ce que nous appelons nuées de Magellan, ou le grand et le petit nuage.''		In the 1750s, the French surveyor and mathematician Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille was based in the trading station at the South African Cape of Good Hope that has developed into the city of Cape Town. He lived there for two years and measured positions of the land and the stars. In gaps of historical constellations, he invented new ones and named them after contemporary devices such as drawing tools, telescope, microscope, and a pendulum clock. The constellation of the Table Mountain seems to stand out as it is named after a geographical feature in Cape Town's landscape. However, Lacaille's reason is preserved in his [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k35505/f787.item 1756 report for the French Academy of Science]. <blockquote>''Enfin, j’ai mis au dessous du grand nuage la Montagne de la Table, célèbre au cap de Bonne-espérance par sa figure de table, et principalement par un nuage blanc qui la vient couvrir en forme de nappe à l’approche d’un vent violent de sud-est; d’ailleurs la pluspart des Navigateurs appellent nuages du Cap, ce que nous appelons nuées de Magellan, ou le grand et le petit nuage.''
	'''English'''		'''English'''

Sushoff at 04:17, 29 November 2024

2024-11-29T04:17:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:17, 29 November 2024
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	[[File:Mensa IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|IAU Mensa chart (CC0)]]		[[File:Mensa IAU.svg\|alt=star chart\|thumb\|IAU Mensa chart (CC0)]]
	Mensa, originally "Mons Mensae" (Table Mountain), is one of the 88 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Astronomical_Union IAU] constellations. There were no ancient (Babylonian, Greek or Roman) constellations in this area, so early modern astronomers created names in the southern hemisphere. The region has no bright stars, the brightest star α Mensae is 5.1 mag, and has thus not been subject to any ~~(?)~~gestalt-seeing~~(?)~~.		Mensa, originally "Mons Mensae" (Table Mountain), is one of the 88 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Astronomical_Union IAU] constellations. There were no ancient (Babylonian, Greek or Roman) constellations in this area, so early modern astronomers created names in the southern hemisphere. The region has no bright stars, the brightest star α Mensae is 5.1 mag, and has thus not been subject to any [[wikipedia:Gestalt_psychology\|gestalt-seeing]].

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==

Ericmamajek: /* Indigenous term for the Mountain */

2024-11-15T02:17:59Z

Indigenous term for the Mountain

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:17, 15 November 2024
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	=== Indigenous term for the Mountain ===		=== Indigenous term for the Mountain ===
	[[File:CaptainGordon1779 hoerikwaggo.jpg\|thumb\|Captain Gordon's 1779 mentioning of the Khoekhoe term for the Table Mountain.]]		[[File:CaptainGordon1779 hoerikwaggo.jpg\|thumb\|Captain Gordon's 1779 mentioning of the Khoekhoe term for the Table Mountain.]]
	Two ~~ethnics~~ were native to the area of ~~cape town~~: the hunter-gatherer San and the nomadic Khoekhoe (in old literature called "the Hottentots" which is today considered offensive). Of course, these peoples also had names for the mountain before the Europeans arrived. In the San and Khoekhoe language it was called '''Huriǂoaxa, the Sea Mountain''' (lit. 'sea-emerging').		Two Indigenous groups were native to the area of Cape Town: the hunter-gatherer San and the nomadic Khoekhoe (in old literature called "the Hottentots" which is today considered offensive). Of course, these peoples also had names for the mountain before the Europeans arrived. In the San and Khoekhoe language it was called '''Huriǂoaxa, the Sea Mountain''' (lit. 'sea-emerging').

	This term is perhaps the earliest known (written) name for this mountain because it is mentioned in the journal of Captain Robert Jacob Gorden on his fourth journey in 1779:<ref>Robert Jacob Gordon’s fourth journey (27 June 1779 to 13 January 1780), appendix to ms 107/3/1/1, fol. 67a, [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1#page4 online]</ref><ref>G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560</ref><blockquote>"de Oude hottentotten hieten de Caap hoerie ḱwaggo of de zeeberg de emphasies op ieder der laatste syllabe van het woord”</blockquote>in translation <blockquote>“The old Hottentots call Cape Town hoerie ḱwaggo or sea-mountain, with the stress on the last syllable of each word”.</blockquote>		This term is perhaps the earliest known (written) name for this mountain because it is mentioned in the journal of Captain Robert Jacob Gorden on his fourth journey in 1779:<ref>Robert Jacob Gordon’s fourth journey (27 June 1779 to 13 January 1780), appendix to ms 107/3/1/1, fol. 67a, [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1#page4 online]</ref><ref>G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560</ref><blockquote>"de Oude hottentotten hieten de Caap '''hoerie ḱwaggo''' of de zeeberg de emphasies op ieder der laatste syllabe van het woord”</blockquote>in translation <blockquote>“The old Hottentots call Cape Town hoerie ḱwaggo or sea-mountain, with the stress on the last syllable of each word”.</blockquote>

	== Images of the Table Mountain ==		== Images of the Table Mountain ==
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	* observation: (a) in the TESS Continuous Viewing Zone, and (b) is one of the nearest, brightest stars subject to asteroseismologic analysis with TESS (Chontos+ 2021; [https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-ref?bibcode=2021ApJ...922..229C SIMBAD])		* observation: (a) in the TESS Continuous Viewing Zone, and (b) is one of the nearest, brightest stars subject to asteroseismologic analysis with TESS (Chontos+ 2021; [https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-ref?bibcode=2021ApJ...922..229C SIMBAD])
	* From asteroseismology, the age is fairly well-constrained age of 6 Gyr. It also has an M dwarf companion at 3".		* From asteroseismology, the age is fairly well-constrained age of 6 Gyr. It also has an M dwarf companion at 3".
	* Alpha Men was also one of the 164 provisional target stars for the Habitable Worlds Observatory that [https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.12414 Karl Stapelfeldt and Eric Mamajek (2023)]. They are mostly naked eye FGK-type dwarfs within about 20 parsecs, and Alpha Mensae is a G7V at 10 parsecs ~~and it should make for a great HWO target for the search for Earth-like planets (so long as the light of the companion star can be mitigated!)~~.		* Alpha Men was also one of the 164 provisional target stars for the Habitable Worlds Observatory that [https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.12414 Karl Stapelfeldt and Eric Mamajek (2023)]. They are mostly naked eye FGK-type dwarfs within about 20 parsecs, and Alpha Mensae is a G7V at 10 parsecs.

	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

Sushoff at 01:12, 15 November 2024

2024-11-15T01:12:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:12, 15 November 2024
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	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

	* Gordon, R.J. (1777-1786). Travel Journals ([https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/writings-and-drawings copies of manuscripts], [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1 transcriptions and page view])		* Gordon, R.J. (1777-1786). Travel Journals ([https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/writings-and-drawings copies of manuscripts] in the Rijks Museum, and [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1 transcriptions and page view])
	* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])		* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])
	* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".		* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".

Sushoff: link confusion resolved (Gordon material)

2024-11-15T01:09:50Z

link confusion resolved (Gordon material)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 15 November 2024
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	== IAU WGSN Catalog of Star Names ==		== IAU WGSN Catalog of Star Names ==
	By the occasion of the IAU GA in Cape Town 2024, it was proposed to name the (yet nameless) main star of the constellation Mensa with an Indigenous term for the mountain. Thus, it was proposed to use the term "[https://ibali.uct.ac.za/s/woac/item/3470 Hoerikwaggo]" from San language (Khoekhoe: '''Huriǂoaxa''', lit. 'sea-emerging'). The term literally means "Sea Mountain" and is perhaps the earliest known (written) name for this mountain, published in 1779 already.		By the occasion of the IAU GA in Cape Town 2024, it was proposed to name the (yet nameless) main star of the constellation Mensa with an Indigenous term for the mountain. Thus, it was proposed to use the term "[https://ibali.uct.ac.za/s/woac/item/3470 Hoerikwaggo]" from San language (Khoekhoe: '''Huriǂoaxa''', lit. 'sea-emerging'). The term literally means "Sea Mountain" and is perhaps the earliest known (written) name for this mountain, published in 1779 already.

	'''Sources:'''		'''Sources:'''

	* Robert Gordon 1779 ([https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/~~writings~~-~~and~~-~~drawings Travel Journals~~])		* Robert Jacob Gordon, Travel Journals: Fourth journey (27 June 1779 to 13 January 1780), appendix to ms 107/3/1/1, fol. 67a, [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1#page4 online]
	* John Barrows 1797; cited by Nienaber and Raper 1977: 560; again: Gabriel Stefanus Nienaber and P. E. Raper (1983, 213): "[https://books.google.com/books?newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&id=peJBAAAAYAAJ&dq=Hoerikwaggo Hottentot (Khoekhoen) Place Names]"		* John Barrows 1797; cited by Nienaber and Raper 1977: 560; again: Gabriel Stefanus Nienaber and P. E. Raper (1983, 213): "[https://books.google.com/books?newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&id=peJBAAAAYAAJ&dq=Hoerikwaggo Hottentot (Khoekhoen) Place Names]"

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	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

	* Gordon, R.J. (1777-1786). [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/writings-and-drawings ~~Travel Journals~~]		* Gordon, R.J. (1777-1786). Travel Journals ([https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/writings-and-drawings copies of manuscripts], [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/manuscripts/appendix-to-ms-107-3-1-1 transcriptions and page view])
	* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])		* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])
	* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".		* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".

Sushoff: /* Weblinks */

2024-11-15T00:44:49Z

Weblinks

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:44, 15 November 2024
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	==Weblinks==		==Weblinks==

			* Gordon, R.J. (1777-1786). [https://www.robertjacobgordon.nl/writings-and-drawings Travel Journals]
			* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])
	* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".		* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".
	* ~~G.S. Nienaber & P~~.E. ~~Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica''~~ (~~1977- 1980~~), ~~vol. A2, p. 560 (~~[https://~~repository.hsrc~~.~~ac.za~~/~~handle~~/20.~~500.11910/16568 vol A1~~]~~, [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])~~		* Stapelfeldt, K. and Mamajek, E. (2023), [https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.12414 Habitable Worlds Observatory]

	==References==		==References==

Sushoff: /* References */

2024-11-15T00:29:23Z

References

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	*[[References]] (general)		*[[References]] (general)
	*[[References (Babylonian)]]
	*[[References (Greco-Roman)\|References (ancient Greco-Roman)]]
	*[[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]

	[[Category:Eurasia]]		[[Category:Eurasia]]

Sushoff: /* Weblinks */ appendices to Nienaber and Raper added

2024-11-15T00:28:58Z

Weblinks: appendices to Nienaber and Raper added

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 15 November 2024
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	* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".		* Ridpath, Ian, "[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/mensa.html Star Tales: online edition]".
			* G.S. Nienaber & P.E. Raper, ''Toponymica Hottentotica'' (1977- 1980), vol. A2, p. 560 ([https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16568 vol A1], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16567 vol A2], [https://repository.hsrc.ac.za/handle/20.500.11910/16566 vol. B])

	==References==		==References==