Arabic star names / Arcturus

Arcturus

السماك الرامح

Arcturus comes from the Arabic السماك الرامح (al-Simāk al-Rāmiḥ), which means “the lance-bearing Simāk”. It is the 3rd-brightest star in the sky, in Boötes.

Brightness

-0.05

Colour

orange

Constellation

Boötes

Best seen

June evenings

Right ascension

14h 16m

Declination

+19° 11′

The name

One of two 'Simāk' stars; this one carries a lance, the fainter stars beside it. The name Arcturus is Greek.

Where you can see it

It rises everywhere north of 71°S. From Riyadh it climbs to 84° above the horizon. From London it climbs to 58° above the horizon. From Sydney it climbs to 37° above the horizon.