Alphard

Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann

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Alphard 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 46390 (α Hya, HR 3748) in constellation Hya.

Etymology and History

Applied in medieval times from its ind-A name al-fard, "the Solitary One", descriptive of this star's standing out among the surrounding dim stars. (See the same word in the plural, with ζ CMa.)

IAU Working Group on Star Names

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

Weblinks

• Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/

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.