Kenemu
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Eric Mamajek
Kenemu (knmw), Crew, is an Egyptian constellation of three stars ρ1 Sgr = 44 Sgr.[1][2] (Stars of) Kenmu, 17th decan in Egyptian astral science, has its heliacal rise in month Peret, represented by a small group of stars around ρ1 Sgr.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Origin of Constellation
Kenemu is the name of a decan (possibly form by several stars as its name indicate, the Crew) of the constellation Wia, The Boat, which is formed by several stars expanding from before the Red of the Prow (Antares) to the end of Sagittarius. It is sailing the Milky Way.
Lull (2018)[1] dedicates an entire research paper to the discussion, cultural embedding and astronomical identification of Wia, The Boat, with Knmw, The Crew. He concludes on the identification of Knmw with the area between the stars ρ1 Sgr (44 Sgr).
Previous Identification: Leitz (1995, 91)[3] reads knm and translates The Dark One, which he interprets as a reference to fainter stars. His identification with λ Aql is refuted by Belmonte and Lull (2023),[2] who also adopt another reading of the original hieroglyphs.
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Religion/ Tales/ Mythology
mnemonic tales and cultural significance
IAU WGSN star name discussion
The name was proposed to WGSN in 2025. As Kenemu means something as "crew", we are not sure if it would be appropriate for a single star. Juan Belmonte suggests to look for any pair of closing stars or a star which is multiple (not to the naked eye) in the area east of Kaus Australis, as in that case, it may suit. Yet, Belmonte and Lull (2023) and Lull (2018) both identify ρ1 Sgr at 3.93 mag in V.
In 2026, the name "Kenemu" was proposed for the star ρ1 Sgr (Rho1 Sagittarii, 44 Sgr, HR 7340, HD 181577, HIP 95168), a spectral type A9IV star with apparent magnitude V=3.92 that lies 40 parsecs away. The star is a Delta Scuti variable star that varies at the ~0.04 magnitude level on a timescale of ~1.2 hours. The star has a mass approximately 1.9x that of the Sun, and a luminosity of approximately 31x the Sun, placing it about ~1.5 magnitudes brighter than the main sequence, and making it a post-main sequence star.
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lull, José (2018). Ancient Egyptian constellation of WjA (Boat) and its link to Sagittarius in the Ptolemaic and Roman era. Aula Orientalis 36/2, 257-277
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Belmonte, Juan Antonio and Lull, José (2023). Astronomy of Ancient Egypt - A Cultural Perspective, Springer
- ↑ Leitz, Ch., 1995. Altägyptische Sternuhren. OLA, 62. Leuven: Peeters.
