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Popular names of stars
A selection of the most
frequently encountered popular names of stars, with
their Bayer or Flamsteed identifications. Note that
more than one popular name may be applied to some
stars: for example, Alpha Andromedae is known as
Alpheratz and Sirrah, both derived from Arabic. In
addition, alternative spellings of many names may
be encountered in different sources. Astronomers
rarely use the popular names of stars except for a
handful of the most famous ones. Star names marked
with an asterisk (*) are navigation stars and are
listed in The Nautical
Almanac. Read also my
“Brief lament” at the foot
of the table.
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Almaak, Almach, or Almak*
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Alpha Trianguli Australis
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Rigil Kentaurus* or Rigil
Kent
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Schedar*, Shedar, or Shedir
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