Fomalhaut - Etymology and Cultural Significance

Etymology and Cultural Significance

Fomalhaut has had various names ascribed to it through time. One such name in common use is the Lonely Star of Autumn, because it is the only first-magnitude star in the autumn sky of mid-northern latitudes. It has been recognized by many cultures of the northern hemisphere, including the Arabs, Persians and Chinese. Archaeological evidence links it to rituals dating back to about 2500 BC.

• It was called Hastorang by the Persians, one of the four "royal stars".
• The name Fom al-Haut comes from scientific Arabic فم الحوت fam al-ħūt (al-janūbī) "the mouth of the Fish".
• The Latin names are ōs piscis merīdiāni, ōs piscis merīdionālis, ōs piscis notii "the mouth of the Southern Fish".
• The name Difda al Auwel comes from the colloquial Arabic الضفدع الأول aḍ-ḍifdiˤ al-’awwal "the first frog" (the second frog is Beta Ceti).
• The Chinese name 北落师门 (Mandarin: Běilàshīmén) meaning North Gate of the Military Camp, because this star is marking itself and stand alone in North Gate of the Military Camp asterism, Encampment mansion (see : Chinese constellation). 北落师门 (Běilàshīmén) westernized into Pi Lo Sze Mun in R.H. Allen's work.

To the Moporr Aboriginal people of South Australia, it is a masculine being called "Buunjill".

Fomalhaut/Earthwork B in Mounds State Park near Anderson, Indiana lines up with the rising of the star Fomalhaut in the fall months, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

In Walter Tevis' novel Steps of the Sun, Fomalhaut is visited by the protagonist and two potentially inhabitable planets are found (and described). Parts of Philip K Dick's novel Lies, Inc (originally titled The Unteleported Man) are set on the fictional planet Fomalhaut IX.

USS Fomalhaut (AK-22) was a United States navy amphibious cargo ship.