h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm wondering why Hercules remained anonymous: a kneeling figure.

Yes, I was wondering about that too.

Possibly it means Atlas in other cultures, as well as Hercules

Further reading of the Almagest Star Catalogue shows that Ptolemy didn't give names to very many stars. Of the 2,000 stars in the catalogue, only 11 have names provided. I wonder did the ancient Greeks just not name the stars much, or was it that he didn't bother providing the names?

I've been trying to figure it out. He doesn't even provide a name for the third brightest star in the sky, Alpha Centauri, although he lists it as first magnitude, brighter than some of the stars he does provide names for. And Aldebaran, which is a very distinctive bright star, is also not given a name. He does however have names for most of the other brightest stars - Sirius, Vega, Capella, Arcturus etc.

The star Spica is very important to Ptolemy because it lies very close to the Ecliptic, the path taken by the Sun across the sky. As a result, it occasionally goes behind the moon and Ptolemy uses the timings of these events to measure the precession of the heavens.

This is a ridiculously hootoo thread. All we need now is a nonsensical 2legs appearance.

*waits*

2legs _is_ the Figure on His Knees.

In my research I have found for Aldebaran: Lampadias (the torch-bearer) and Omma Boos in Greek. I have no idea which is correct, or maybe there were two names, it has so many: Tascheter (Persian)
Parilicium (Roman) Sataves (Hindu) and the Latin Oculus Tauri

I believe Boos means "of the cows". I don't know what Omma is. But Ptolemy doesn't give any name for this star. He actually only names 11 stars, not even all the 1st magnitude ones.

Strange.

I am writing an Entry on Aldebaran, I've tried to add what names I can find. Shall I add both Greek names do you think?

OK, Omma Boos means "Eye of the Bull".

I'm not sure about Lampadias - it seems to mean "burning torch", and was applied to Halley's Comet, and also possibly to Aldebaran.

That's great thank you Gnomon. I'll call it Omma Boos and footnote the burning torch, thank you

I bought a book yesterday called "The Brightest Stars", which has sections about each of the 21 first magnitude stars. I skimmed through Aldebaran - it's the first magnitude star with the fastest motion away from us, and fourth fastest of the the 300 brightest stars (I think). In the past, about 200,000 years ago, it would have been much closer and the brightest star in the sky by far. Unfortunately, our legends don't go back that far. I can look up all these details for you if you are interested, or perhaps you know them already.

It's in PR now, if you have anything to add I'd be happy to make it collaborate

I have a busy day RL today, but I am certainly interested, thanks!

Actually, I'm not sure I'll get a chance to look at the book this evening, and then I'm going on holidays until 31 August, so I may not have time. I'm sure your entry will be fine without my contributions.

thank you