Pherkad

English

Etymology

From Arabic ⁧فرقد⁩ (farqad, “calf”), from aḫfa al farkadayn ("the dim one of the two calves") in reference to Pherkad and Kochab, previously dual North Stars. Formally approved by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group on Star Names on 21 August 2016.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɜːrkæd/

Proper noun

Pherkad

(astronomy) γ Ursae Minoris, a star in the constellation Ursa Minor, formerly a dual North Star with Kochab from about 1000 BC to about AD 300.

Synonyms

Gamma Ursae Minoris, γ Ursae Minoris, Pherkad Major

Hypernyms

See North Star

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