Pulcherrima
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Eric Mamajek, IanRidpath
The name Pulcherrima was given to the B-component of epsilon Bootis (4.8 mag) by Friedrich G. W. von Struve in 1829. The Latin name translates to "most beautiful" or "loveliest," referring to its striking, contrasting colors — a bright yellow primary and a blue-white secondary star. Epsilon Boötis (ε Boo) is named Izar.
Concordance, Etymology, History
19th century German-Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve, known for his study of double stars, named the star Pulcherrima, Latin for “the loveliest.”
Proctor (1866) for name "Pulcherissima" states
"A name given by modern astronomers to express the extreme beauty of this double star (orange and green), viewed with a good telescope.",
however the spelling "Pulcherrima" appeared much more often after mid-19th century. Admiral Smyth (1844)[1] cites Struve as the source of the name.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was suggested to the IAU WGSN in 2023. WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.
Weblinks
Reference
- References (general)
- References (early modern)
- Ian Ridpath's website (Star Tales )
- ↑ William Henry SMYTH (1844). A Cycle of Celestial Objects, for the use of naval, military and private astronomers, Volume 2, p 325
