Astronomy

Epsilon Pegasi – Star Facts

- 13 February 2020

Epsilon Pegasi is also known as Enif from the Arabic word meaning ‘nose’, due to its position in the Pegasus constellation. Historically this star was referred to by other names in other cultures. Its traditional name is derived from Fom al Feras, which is Latinised to Os Equi. In the Asian culture this star is called Wei Su, meaning ‘Rooftop’ in reference to Pegasus.

Epsilon Canis Majoris – Star Facts

- 29 January 2020

Epsilon Canis Majoris is also known as Adhara, an Arabic word meaning ‘virgins’. It’s the second brightest star in Canis Major and 24th overall in the night sky. However, 4.7 million years-ago Adhara was actually the most luminous in the sky. No other star has ever been this bright, nor is one expected to be for at least five million years.

Epsilon Boötis – Star Facts

- 24 January 2020

Epsilon Boötiis is also known as Izar from the Arabic word meaning ‘veil’ and Pulcherrima which is Latin for ‘the loveliest’. In 1973 a Scottish astronomer and science fiction writer, Duncan Lunan, said he interpreted a message from the 1920s probe orbiting the Moon. He claimed the message was sent to the probe from the inhabitants of a planet orbiting Epsilon Bootis.

Denebola – Star Facts

- 15 January 2020

Denebola is from the Arabic language meaning, ‘the lion’s tail’, which is in the constellation of Leo. In the Ancient Chinese culture, their astronomers gave Denebola the first star designation in the five-star asterism ‘Seat of the Five Emperors’. In astrology, Denebola was believed to bring misfortune and disgrace. It’s also 15 times brighter than the Sun.

Deneb – Star Facts

- 8 January 2020

Deneb is from the Latin language meaning ‘tail’, and is one of the largest white stars known today. It is also called Alpha Cygni and is a blue-white supergiant with 20 solar masses and 200 times the radius of the Sun. After a few million years Deneb’s core will collapse producing a supernova. In Chinese mythology Deneb is the bridge of magpies a Princess crosses.

Castor – Star Facts

- 23 December 2019

Castor is from the Latin language meaning ‘beaver’. Castor is actually made up of six stars with three pairs of binary stars being all gravitationally bound to each other. The mythology surrounding Castor dates back to the early Greeks. They believed that Castor and his brother, Pollux were ‘half’ twins. The boys were also alleged to have sailed with Jason and the Argonauts.

Capella – Star Facts

- 16 December 2019

Capella is a four-star system made up of two pairs of binary stars. Historically and mythologically, Capella is a bit of a mystery. Richard Hinkley Allen from Star Names tells us the ancient Arabs referred to Capella as ‘the Driver’ or a shepherd driving his flock of sheep across the night sky with the nearby Pleiades being construed as large animals.

Canopus – Star Facts

- 9 December 2019

Canopus is suspected to be nearing the end of its life cycle even though it is considerable young. Its mass is 65 times that of the Sun and shines with the luminosity of 14,000 suns. In fact, this star is so large if it were placed in the middle of the solar system it would reach 90 percent of the way to Mercur.