Kemenu

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann

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Boat and Decans in tomb of Karakhamun  (CC BY Elena Pischikova and Miguel A. Molinero, in Lull 2018).

Kemenu (kmnw), Crew, is an Egyptian constellation of three stars ρ Sgr - 44 Sgr. (Stars of) Kenmu, 17th decan in Egyptian astral science, has its heliacal rise in month Peret, represented by a small group of stars around ρ₁ Sgr.

Concordance, Etymology, History

The Boat and its Crew, Wja and Kemenu, in the Book of Nut (Lull 2018)

Origin of Constellation

Decans of Wja+Knmw in the astronomical ceiling of Esna (Lull 2018).

Kemenu is the name of a decan (possibly form by several stars as its name indicate, the Crew) of the constellation Wia, The Boat, which is formed by several stars expanding from before the Red of the Prow (Antares) to the end of Sagittarius. It is sailing the Milky Way.  

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

There is no identification of this constellation in Neugebauer and Parker, or in Leitz (1995), as their works focused on the so-called decan-constellation (further south).

Religion/ Tales/ Mythology

mnemonic tales and cultural significance

IAU WGSN star name discussion

The name was proposed to WGSN in 2025. As Kemenu means something as "crew", we are not sure if it would be appropriate for a single star. Juan Belmonte suggests to look for any pair of closing stars or a star which is multiple (not to the naked eye) in the area east of Kaus Australis, as in that case, it may suit. Therefore, we pick HIP 89637 is 6.03 mag in V.

References

• References (general)