Xami - Revision history

Sushoff at 06:00, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T06:00:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:00, 22 January 2026
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			Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:Xami profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg\|thumb\|Xami profile card (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN).]]		[[File:Xami profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg\|thumb\|Xami profile card (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN).]]
	Xami is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is \Xam-dialect of Khoe. The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It is the name of HIP71908 (α Cir, HR 5463) in constellation Cir.		Xami is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is \Xam-dialect of Khoe. The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It is the name of HIP71908 (α Cir, HR 5463) in constellation Cir.

Sushoff at 11:13, 14 September 2025

2025-09-14T11:13:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:13, 14 September 2025
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	[[File:Xami ~~Di Mura Stellarium~~.jpg\|thumb\|~~The Indigenous constellation~~ Xami ~~in Stellarium 2024. The Eyes of Xami are identified with α and β Centauri~~, ~~which places α Cir (highlighted~~) ~~necessarily inside the face~~. ]]		[[File:Xami profileCard SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg\|thumb\|Xami profile card (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN).]]
	Xami is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is \Xam-dialect of Khoe. The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It is the name of HIP71908 (α Cir, HR 5463) in constellation Cir.		Xami is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is \Xam-dialect of Khoe. The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It is the name of HIP71908 (α Cir, HR 5463) in constellation Cir.


	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
			[[File:Xami stickfigure SadeghFaghanpour-IAU-WGSN.jpg\|thumb\|Xami stickfigure (CC BY Sadegh Faghanpour, IAU-WGSN).]]
			[[File:Xami Di Mura Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|The Indigenous constellation Xami in Stellarium 2024. The Eyes of Xami are identified with α and β Centauri, which places α Cir (highlighted) necessarily inside the face. ]]
	Xami, The Beast (or The Lion) is an Indigenous constellation. The exact extent of this constellation is unknown. Still, the research by Suki Lock (SAAO) who worked with the Indigenous communities, concluded that the eyes of Xami are α and β Centauri. Thus, the SAAO-visualisation of Xami draws a lion head around these two stars placing α Cir necessarily inside the face of Xami. Looking for name suggestions for the nameless main stars of the official constellations, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the name "Xami" for this star.		Xami, The Beast (or The Lion) is an Indigenous constellation. The exact extent of this constellation is unknown. Still, the research by Suki Lock (SAAO) who worked with the Indigenous communities, concluded that the eyes of Xami are α and β Centauri. Thus, the SAAO-visualisation of Xami draws a lion head around these two stars placing α Cir necessarily inside the face of Xami. Looking for name suggestions for the nameless main stars of the official constellations, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the name "Xami" for this star.

IanRidpath: /* IAU Working Group on Star Names */ Spelling

2025-06-17T19:35:22Z

IAU Working Group on Star Names: Spelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 17 June 2025
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	==IAU Working Group on Star Names==		==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
	As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing ~~Compas~~, and Pyxis, The Marine ~~Compas~~, WGSN won't use it as a star name ~~anyway~~. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]). It was adopted to the IAU-CSN in 2024 following the General Assembly of the IAU in Cape Town, on 2024/12/12.		As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compass, and Pyxis, The Marine Compass, WGSN won't use it as a star name. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]). It was adopted to the IAU-CSN in 2024 following the General Assembly of the IAU in Cape Town, on 2024/12/12.


	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==

Sushoff at 18:09, 20 May 2025

2025-05-20T18:09:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:09, 20 May 2025
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	[[Category:Africa]]		[[Category:Africa]]
	[[Category:Cir]]		[[Category:Cir]]
	[[Category:~~Khoe~~]]		[[Category:Khoekhoe]]

Sushoff at 18:08, 20 May 2025

2025-05-20T18:08:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:08, 20 May 2025
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	[[File:Xami Di Mura Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|The Indigenous constellation Xami in Stellarium 2024. The Eyes of Xami are identified with α and β Centauri, which places α Cir (highlighted) necessarily inside the face. ]]		[[File:Xami Di Mura Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|The Indigenous constellation Xami in Stellarium 2024. The Eyes of Xami are identified with α and β Centauri, which places α Cir (highlighted) necessarily inside the face. ]]
	The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It ~~was adopted to~~ the ~~IAU-CSN in 2024 following the General Assembly~~ of ~~the IAU~~ in ~~Cape Town~~.		Xami is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is \Xam-dialect of Khoe. The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It is the name of HIP71908 (α Cir, HR 5463) in constellation Cir.


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

	==IAU Working Group Star Names==		==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
	As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compas, and Pyxis, The Marine Compas, WGSN won't use it as a star name anyway. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]).		As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compas, and Pyxis, The Marine Compas, WGSN won't use it as a star name anyway. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]). It was adopted to the IAU-CSN in 2024 following the General Assembly of the IAU in Cape Town, on 2024/12/12.


	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==
			* Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/
	*

	== Reference ==		== Reference ==
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	[[Category:Africa]]		[[Category:Africa]]
	[[Category:Cir]]		[[Category:Cir]]
			[[Category:Khoe]]

Sushoff at 14:58, 25 December 2024

2024-12-25T14:58:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:58, 25 December 2024
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	[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]		[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
	[[Category:Africa]]		[[Category:Africa]]
			[[Category:Cir]]

Sushoff at 10:52, 14 December 2024

2024-12-14T10:52:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:52, 14 December 2024
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	Xami, The Beast (or The Lion) is an Indigenous constellation. The exact extent of this constellation is unknown. Still, the research by Suki Lock (SAAO) who worked with the Indigenous communities, concluded that the eyes of Xami are α and β Centauri. Thus, the SAAO-visualisation of Xami draws a lion head around these two stars placing α Cir necessarily inside the face of Xami. Looking for name suggestions for the nameless main stars of the official constellations, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the name "Xami" for this star.		Xami, The Beast (or The Lion) is an Indigenous constellation. The exact extent of this constellation is unknown. Still, the research by Suki Lock (SAAO) who worked with the Indigenous communities, concluded that the eyes of Xami are α and β Centauri. Thus, the SAAO-visualisation of Xami draws a lion head around these two stars placing α Cir necessarily inside the face of Xami. Looking for name suggestions for the nameless main stars of the official constellations, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the name "Xami" for this star.

	Circinus is a constellation artificially created by the French surveyor Lacaille in Cape Town in the early modern era, when the Cape Colony, the settlement around the Fort de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope) slowly grew. At that time, the place was a way-station for European ships to the archipelago now called Indonesia where tobacco, copper and iron ~~was~~ traded with the Khoekhoe clans ~~of the region~~ in exchange for fresh meat and other important travelling implements. Lacaille invented the constellation "Le Compas" (in French) and grouped it together with Norma (his invention) and the Southern Triangle (Triangulum Australe), which was invented earlier by the Dutch. The group of drawing tools was considered to commemorate his everyday work, or the profession of a technical draughtsman.		Circinus is a constellation artificially created by the French surveyor Nicolas de Lacaille in Cape Town in the early modern era, when the Cape Colony, the settlement around the Fort de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope), slowly grew. At that time, the place was a way-station for European ships to the archipelago now called Indonesia, where tobacco, copper and iron were traded with the region's Khoekhoe clans in exchange for fresh meat and other important travelling implements. Lacaille invented the constellation "Le Compas" (in French) and grouped it together with Norma (his invention) and the Southern Triangle (Triangulum Australe), which was invented earlier by the Dutch. The group of drawing tools was considered to commemorate his everyday work, or the profession of a technical draughtsman.

	The term "Xami" is from /Xam, a dialect of the Khoe-language which is now moribund, but audio records of this language preserve its sound.		The term "Xami" is from /Xam, a dialect of the Khoe-language which is now moribund, but audio records of this language preserve its sound.

Sushoff: /* IAU Working Group Star Names */

2024-12-14T10:33:01Z

IAU Working Group Star Names

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:33, 14 December 2024
Line 6:		Line 6:

	Circinus is a constellation artificially created by the French surveyor Lacaille in Cape Town in the early modern era, when the Cape Colony, the settlement around the Fort de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope) slowly grew. At that time, the place was a way-station for European ships to the archipelago now called Indonesia where tobacco, copper and iron was traded with the Khoekhoe clans of the region in exchange for fresh meat and other important travelling implements. Lacaille invented the constellation "Le Compas" (in French) and grouped it together with Norma (his invention) and the Southern Triangle (Triangulum Australe), which was invented earlier by the Dutch. The group of drawing tools was considered to commemorate his everyday work, or the profession of a technical draughtsman.		Circinus is a constellation artificially created by the French surveyor Lacaille in Cape Town in the early modern era, when the Cape Colony, the settlement around the Fort de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope) slowly grew. At that time, the place was a way-station for European ships to the archipelago now called Indonesia where tobacco, copper and iron was traded with the Khoekhoe clans of the region in exchange for fresh meat and other important travelling implements. Lacaille invented the constellation "Le Compas" (in French) and grouped it together with Norma (his invention) and the Southern Triangle (Triangulum Australe), which was invented earlier by the Dutch. The group of drawing tools was considered to commemorate his everyday work, or the profession of a technical draughtsman.

			The term "Xami" is from /Xam, a dialect of the Khoe-language which is now moribund, but audio records of this language preserve its sound.

	==Mythology ==		==Mythology ==
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	==IAU Working Group Star Names==		==IAU Working Group Star Names==
	As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compas, and Pyxis, The Marine Compas, WGSN won't use it as a star name anyway. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]).		As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compas, and Pyxis, The Marine Compas, WGSN won't use it as a star name anyway. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]).


	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==

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	== Reference ==		== Reference ==
	The information on the identification of Xami with this area in Centaurus was provided by Suki Lock (SAAO), based on information supplied by Auke Slotegraaf, Themba Matomela, Thembela Mantungwa and Mdumiseni Nxumalo. Sivuyile Manxoyi initiated the project of researching the Khoekhoe/ San sky culture after discussions with Prof Jarita Holbrook and Prof Kevin Snedegar on African Cultural astronomy, cf. also Bleek and Lloyd (1911)		The information on the identification of Xami with this area in Centaurus was provided by Suki Lock (SAAO), based on information supplied by Auke Slotegraaf, Themba Matomela, Thembela Mantungwa and Mdumiseni Nxumalo. Sivuyile Manxoyi initiated the project of researching the Khoekhoe/ San sky culture after discussions with Prof Jarita Holbrook and Prof Kevin Snedegar on African Cultural astronomy, cf. also Bleek and Lloyd (1911)<ref>Wilhelm H. I. Bleek and Lucy C. Lloyd (1911). Specimens of Bushman Folklore, London: George Allen.</ref>
	[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]		[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
	[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]		[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]
	[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]		[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
	[[Category:Africa]]		[[Category:Africa]]

Sushoff at 10:29, 14 December 2024

2024-12-14T10:29:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:29, 14 December 2024
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	~~A brief information~~ (~~language, culture~~ of ~~origin)~~		[[File:Xami Di Mura Stellarium.jpg\|thumb\|The Indigenous constellation Xami in Stellarium 2024. The Eyes of Xami are identified with α and β Centauri, which places α Cir (highlighted) necessarily inside the face. ]]
			The Indigenous South African constellation "Xami" was used by the San and by the Khoekhoe in the Western Cape area. It was adopted to the IAU-CSN in 2024 following the General Assembly of the IAU in Cape Town.

	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
			Xami, The Beast (or The Lion) is an Indigenous constellation. The exact extent of this constellation is unknown. Still, the research by Suki Lock (SAAO) who worked with the Indigenous communities, concluded that the eyes of Xami are α and β Centauri. Thus, the SAAO-visualisation of Xami draws a lion head around these two stars placing α Cir necessarily inside the face of Xami. Looking for name suggestions for the nameless main stars of the official constellations, the IAU Working Group on Star Names adopted the name "Xami" for this star.

	==Mythology==		Circinus is a constellation artificially created by the French surveyor Lacaille in Cape Town in the early modern era, when the Cape Colony, the settlement around the Fort de Goede Hoop (Castle of Good Hope) slowly grew. At that time, the place was a way-station for European ships to the archipelago now called Indonesia where tobacco, copper and iron was traded with the Khoekhoe clans of the region in exchange for fresh meat and other important travelling implements. Lacaille invented the constellation "Le Compas" (in French) and grouped it together with Norma (his invention) and the Southern Triangle (Triangulum Australe), which was invented earlier by the Dutch. The group of drawing tools was considered to commemorate his everyday work, or the profession of a technical draughtsman.

			==Mythology ==

	==IAU Working Group Star Names==		==IAU Working Group Star Names==
	The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in ~~202x~~. ~~As this~~ star ~~is already named ..., the WGSN chose ...~~ (~~not to apply~~/ ~~to apply the name to a neighbouring star~~/ to ...) ~~in the IAU-CSN~~.		As the French term "Le Compas" might cause confusion in English with Circinus, The Drawing Compas, and Pyxis, The Marine Compas, WGSN won't use it as a star name anyway. The name "Xami" was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 2024 and adopted to the the IAU-CSN for α Circini, a 3.19 mag-star ([https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=alf+Cir&submit=SIMBAD+search SIMBAD]).


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	== Reference ==		== Reference ==
			The information on the identification of Xami with this area in Centaurus was provided by Suki Lock (SAAO), based on information supplied by Auke Slotegraaf, Themba Matomela, Thembela Mantungwa and Mdumiseni Nxumalo. Sivuyile Manxoyi initiated the project of researching the Khoekhoe/ San sky culture after discussions with Prof Jarita Holbrook and Prof Kevin Snedegar on African Cultural astronomy, cf. also Bleek and Lloyd (1911)
	[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]		[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
	[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]		[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]
	[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]		[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
	[[Category:Africa]]		[[Category:Africa]]

Sushoff: Created page with "A brief information (language, culture of origin) ==Etymology and History== ==Mythology== ==IAU Working Group Star Names== The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN. == Weblinks == * == Reference == Category:Asterism‏‎ Category:Constellation‏‎ Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎ Category:Africa"

2024-12-14T10:04:38Z

Created page with "A brief information (language, culture of origin) ==Etymology and History== ==Mythology== ==IAU Working Group Star Names== The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN. == Weblinks == * == Reference == Category:Asterism‏‎ Category:Constellation‏‎ Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎ Category:Africa"

New page

A brief information (language, culture of origin)

==Etymology and History==

==Mythology==

==IAU Working Group Star Names==
The name was discussed and approved by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

== Weblinks ==

*

== Reference ==

[[Category:Asterism‏‎]]
[[Category:Constellation‏‎]]
[[Category:IAU-Star Name‏‎]]
[[Category:Africa]]