Journal or Publication Title:

Բյուրականի աստղադիտարանի հաղորդումներ: Երևանի աստղադիտարանի բյուլետեն = Сообщения Бюраканской обсерватории. Бюллетень ереванской Астрономической обсерватории = Contributions from the Burakan observatory. Bulletin of the Erevan astronomical observatory

Date of publication:

2026

Volume:

73

Number:

1

ISSN:

2579-2276

Coverage:

127-129

Abstract:

This review examines the revival of indigenous Middle Eastern star names as a resource for astronomy education and cultural preservation. It draws on the IAU Catalog of Star Names and recent reports of the IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN), considering 230 officially adopted names classified here according to Arabic, Persian, Sumerian, Hebrew, Turkish, Akkadian and Coptic origins. The review also describes educational infographics that combine astrophysical parameters with historical and linguistic context and were disseminated primarily through social media. Recent WGSN activity shows that standardisation now proceeds alongside the documentation of variant names, etymologies, cultural transfer, and visual traditions. Middle Eastern star names are therefore relevant to both scientific nomenclature and the preservation of intangible astronomical heritage. Their educational use is strongest when an adopted name is presented together with its historical source, linguistic development, and astronomical identification rather than as an isolated label.

Format:

pdf

Identifier:

oai:arar.sci.am:439347

General note:

Communications of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (ComBAO) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which publishes research in observational and theoretical astronomy/astrophysics and presents recent advances in these fields. It is being published by the NAS RA V. Ambartsumian Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) in English in electronic form. The journal publishes original papers, review papers, brief reports, book reviews, special communications, observational and theoretical results in various fields of astronomy and related sciences, and some editorial notes, including anniversaries and obituaries. Under the heading “Legacy”, the renewed magazine will republish some old articles of high value in English. The heading “Guest articles” will bring to the attention of readers the articles of researchers who are not employees of BAO. ComBAO was founded in 1946 and regularly published in 1946-1990. However, the publication was interrupted because of the economic situation after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Location of original object:

ՀՀ ԳԱԱ Հիմնարար գիտական գրադարան