Shakh: Difference between revisions

From All Skies Encyclopaedia
Sushoff (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Sushoff (talk | contribs)
Line 7: Line 7:


==Concordance, Etymology, History==
==Concordance, Etymology, History==
ŠAḪ  
[[File:Shakhu Pig Stellarium.png|thumb|The Sumerian constellation of the Pig in a modern reconstruction for Stellarium. ]]
The Sumerian term ŠAḪ (Akkadian ''šaḫu'')<ref>[[Mesopotamian (All Terms)|Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0]], All Skies Encyclopaedia.</ref> is an ancient Mesopotamian constellation. It is described in the first known astronomical compandium, MUL.APIN, whose first sections date to the time between 1350 and 1150 BCE (other parts might be younger) and which was used through the entire first millennium BCE. 
'''MUL.APIN (I i 29),''' the list of asterisms of the god Enlil, describes the Pig next to the (well-positioned) asterism of <sup>mul</sup>[[UD.KA.DU8.A|UD.KA.DU<sub>8</sub>.A]]
** MUL ''ša''<sub>2</sub> ''ina'' ZAG-''šu''<sub>2</sub> GUB-''zu'' <sup>mul</sup>ŠAḪ <sup>d</sup>''Da-mu''
** "The star which stands on its right (i.e., <sup>mul</sup>[[UD.KA.DU8.A|UD.KA.DU<sub>8</sub>.A]]): the Pig, Damu" [Hunger & Steele 2019<ref name=":3">Hunger, H. and  J. M. Steele (2019). The Babylonian Astronomical Compendium MUL.APIN, Routledge, NY</ref>, 36].
 
Hence, it is well known that it is in the area of modern Vulpecula and Sagitta. As the two similarly bright stars α and β Sge may easily cause the visual association with a pig's nose, the name was suggested to be applied to one of these two.


==Mythology==
==Mythology==


==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
==IAU Working Group on Star Names==
The name was discussed and adopted 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.
The name was discussed and adopted for β Sge by the IAU WGSN in June 2026.   
 
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN in 2026, as it has been in popular use among astrophysicists and listed in SIMBAD already.   


<gallery>
<gallery>

Revision as of 16:54, 19 June 2026

Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann


InfoCard1
InfoCard2

Shakh, The Pig, is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Sumerian. It is the name of the star β Sge in constellation Sagitta.

Concordance, Etymology, History

The Sumerian constellation of the Pig in a modern reconstruction for Stellarium.

The Sumerian term ŠAḪ (Akkadian šaḫu)[1] is an ancient Mesopotamian constellation. It is described in the first known astronomical compandium, MUL.APIN, whose first sections date to the time between 1350 and 1150 BCE (other parts might be younger) and which was used through the entire first millennium BCE. MUL.APIN (I i 29), the list of asterisms of the god Enlil, describes the Pig next to the (well-positioned) asterism of mulUD.KA.DU8.A (𒌓𒅗𒂃𒀀)

    • MUL ša2 ina ZAG-šu2 GUB-zu mulŠAḪ dDa-mu
    • "The star which stands on its right (i.e., mulUD.KA.DU8.A (𒌓𒅗𒂃𒀀)): the Pig, Damu" [Hunger & Steele 2019[2], 36].

Hence, it is well known that it is in the area of modern Vulpecula and Sagitta. As the two similarly bright stars α and β Sge may easily cause the visual association with a pig's nose, the name was suggested to be applied to one of these two.

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was discussed and adopted for β Sge by the IAU WGSN in June 2026.


Reference

  1. Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0, All Skies Encyclopaedia.
  2. Hunger, H. and J. M. Steele (2019). The Babylonian Astronomical Compendium MUL.APIN, Routledge, NY