Arabic star names / Alnilam
Alnilam
النظام
Alnilam comes from the Arabic النظام (al-Niẓām), which means “the string of pearls”. It is the 30th-brightest star in the sky, in Orion.
- Brightness
- 1.69
- Colour
- blue-white
- Constellation
- Orion
- Best seen
- January evenings
- Right ascension
- 5h 36m
- Declination
- −1° 12′
The name
The middle star of Orion's Belt. The three belt stars together were the 'string of pearls'.
Where you can see it
It rises everywhere south of 89°N. From Riyadh it climbs to 64° above the horizon. From London it climbs to 37° above the horizon. From Sydney it climbs to 57° above the horizon.
Was Alnilam above you on your night? Make a free poster of the sky for any date and place.
Make your star map