Elnath

Authors: IAU-WGSN Etymology Group, Susanne M Hoffmann, IanRidpath, Youla Azkarrula

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Elnath 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 25428 (β Tau, HR 1791) in constellation Tau.

Etymology and History

From the ind-A name al-naṭḥ (or al-nāṭiḥ), "the Butting (with the horns)", an alternative name for the 1st lunar mansion al-sharaṭān consisting of β and γ Ari (see β Ari). Some late Arabic authors also applied al-naṭḥ as a star name to α Ari. In recent times the name, as “Nath”, was wrongly transferred to β Tau, and subsequently it was completed to “Elnath” (adding the Arabic definite article).

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.
• Ridpath, Ian. Taurus: the horns. Star Tales online edition.