Rasalas

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


Rasalas
Asterism Info
Native
رأس الأسد
Translation
Head of the lion
Position (2000)
Right ascension148.1909042
Declination26.00695119
Area0 sq. deg.
Stars
Bright stars1
Bayer/Flamsteed
stars
1
Stars brighter than 3.00m0
Brightest starRasalas (3.88m)
Taxonomy
category
of asterism
IAU-Star Name
IAU-
constellations
Leo

Rasalas 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 48455 (μ Leo, HR 3905) in constellation Leo.

Etymology and History

Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its sci-A name ra's alasad (al-shamali), "(the Northern [Part] of) the Lion's Head". As originally applied, μ Leo was "Rasalasad Borealis" (abbreviated in the first Western astronomical source as "Rasalas. Bor." for lack of space in the line), and ε Leo was "Rasalasad Australis" (after the sci-A).

Mythology

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN on 2016/09/12.

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.