Shakh: Difference between revisions
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==Concordance, Etymology, History== | ==Concordance, Etymology, History== | ||
[[File:Shakhu Pig Stellarium.png|thumb|The Sumerian constellation of the Pig in a modern reconstruction for Stellarium. ]] | [[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. | 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.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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 19 June 2026
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
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 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.
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InfoCard1 -
InfoCard2
Weblinks
Reference
- References (general)
- References (early modern)
- Ian Ridpath's website (Star Tales )
- ↑ Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0, All Skies Encyclopaedia.
- ↑ Hunger, H. and J. M. Steele (2019). The Babylonian Astronomical Compendium MUL.APIN, Routledge, NY
