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Glite Dictionary
Altair

Altair

2 8.4
The brightest star in the Aquila constellation, about 16 light years from Earth
  • proper noun
  • /ˈæl.tɛr/
: Altair
  • United Planets cruiser C-57-D now more than a year out from Earth base on a special mission to the planetary system of the great main sequence star, Altair.
  • Altair and Vega

Examples

  • The star Altair shone from within the dark words, and the golden nebula of Praesepe was blurred by the light.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The brightest star in the night sky, Altair is easily recognizable in the constellation Aquila.

  • Whatever that something is, Altair and Vega are part of it.

    Academic text (1991)

  • It's made up of three bright stars in the Milky Way, Vega, Altair, and Deneb.

    The Longest Swim (2014)

  • Altair was that pillar of fire, and the nebula of Praesepe was the pillar of smoke.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Known for its brilliant shine, Altair is located approximately 15.7 light years from Earth.

  • In navigation, sailors often look for Altair as a key reference point among the stars.

Surface Forms

Altair main

Etymology

Altair comes from Arabic parts al- and ṭā'ir, which mean 'the flyer' or 'the flying one', because the star is part of the bird-shaped constellation Aquila (the eagle). So, thinking of Altair as 'the flyer' helps you remember it is the bright, flying star in that sky picture.