Worldbuilding Wednesday 12/6/17: Star Names I

Not only did ancient peoples look to the night sky’s constellations as cultural touchstones, they also looked to individual stars. The star Thuban helped the Egyptians align their pyramids, and Sirius, when it rose at dawn, let them know the flooding of the Nile was soon to come. The stars of the Pleiades star cluster signaled the start of the sailing season to the ancient Greeks.

The stars of the modern world have official names of the Latin possessive of the constellation they belong to, preceded a letter of the Greek alphabet (e.g. Zeta Reticuli). When the Greek alphabet runs out, Latin letters are used, and then numbers. Prominent stars also keep their ancient names, Anglicized, easier-to-pronounce versions of the Arab ones. A few are more ancient, and a few more modern. Stars containing a system of planets were recently named through an internet vote sponsored by the International Astronomical Union in 2015, for example. There are also stars named for people, like Barnard’s star and Tabby’s star.

Through the magic of random generation, here are some Arabic-sounding starry names you can use for your own fictional skies.

 

Star Names

Ghilchardi

Tamsules

Nashrius

Taunoros

Halyat

Delmeisa

Vanyoros

Fornabi

Vyrnah

Merara

Trintzam

Felnavi

Ulregel

Tasbhaat

Lokwaid

Olnscha

Elfsata

Saanzed

Sedshira

Jalgete

Ladkar

Ardnax

Menzipheda

Mirlnax

Khanramin

Hanrab

Ghanineb

Pholectra

Churud

Morlzar

Jolraph

Amphectra

Karalrai

Ulchab

Kahrudra

Gerphoros

Torsudra

Irulzinda

Grisus

Ranthamar

Zinstard

Grannavi

Mirlgeuse

Halijidma

Prosersim

Shenbah

Ranthellus

Eliskab

Betelthim

Purmalopus

Psunroperus

Wesulnubi

Aralfrash

Zamtanscha

Arakakhra

Phoraani

Duneira

Kabrius

Baliales

Zedani

Zarules

Alphaules

Phadian

Ashtut

Rudashira

Zistuben

Charcyon

Barkzim

Psalturus

Polkephora

Zimchard

Irulatna

Murahbens

Zenropar

Ulzamard

Pamopus

Werosma

Tristaurus

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