Why 2/3 of All Named Stars Have Arabic Names: A Legacy of Knowledge

In the vast expanse of the night sky, over two-thirds of the named stars are Arabic names. This intriguing phenomenon traces back to a period of great intellectual and cultural exchange that began around the 8th century AD. Let us delve into the historical and linguistic reasons behind this prevalence.

Translation and Preservation

During the Islamic Golden Age, from the 8th to the 14th centuries, scholars in the Islamic world made significant advancements in various fields, including astronomy. One of the critical factors linking Arabic names to modern star names is the translation and preservation of Arabic texts into Latin. Early European astronomers translated many of these works, often retaining the original Arabic names. The translation and preservation of these texts ensured that the names and knowledge of the stars continued to be passed down through generations.

Astronomical Catalogs

Prominent astronomers like Al-Sufi (Alhazen) cataloged the stars and their properties, and their works, such as the Book of Fixed Stars, contributed to the widespread use of Arabic star names. These catalogs were central to the astronomical advancements of the time, and their influence extended beyond the Arab world. Prominent figures like Al-Sufi ensured that the Arabic terminology for stars became integrated into Western astronomy, cementing the legacy of Arabic nomenclature in the field of astronomy.

Cultural Exchange

The Renaissance marked a period of renewed interest in classical knowledge, and European scholars looked to Arabic sources for information on astronomy. This cultural exchange played a significant role in the adoption and integration of Arabic star names into Western astronomy. The Arabic language served as the international language of scientific work during this period, making it the lingua franca of the scientific community. As a result, many Arabic names for stars were integrated into Western catalogs and became widely recognized.

Naming Conventions

The tradition of naming stars using Arabic terms continued as new stars were discovered and cataloged. This practice further entrenched the influence of Arabic in the field of astronomy. Today, many well-known stars such as Aldebaran and Betelgeuse bear Arabic names. These names reflect the historical legacy of Arabic contributions to the study of the stars, and they open a window into the past when Arabic was the -preferred language for scientific work.

Example: Betelgeuse and Altair

The brightest stars in the sky, such as Aldebaran and Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion, bear Arabic names. These names tell the story of the cultures and legends from the Middle East, Greece, and Rome, which named them. For example, Betelgeuse, pronounced "beetle-juhus" in English, comes from the Arabic phrase ????? ??????, meaning "the reddish one." This legacy is further exemplified by Altair, which comes from the Arabic phrase ?? ?????, meaning "the flying eagle."

Around 1900 years ago, the Egyptian astronomer Claudius Ptolemy wrote the Almagest. This text recorded the names of stars as they had been named by various cultures, primarily in Greek, but also in Arabic. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Arab world became the central repository of astronomical and mathematical knowledge. As a result, the Arabic translations of these names became the standard in the scientific community.