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Glite Dictionary
Markab

Markab

1 9.9
A bright star in the constellation Pegasus used to find other stars
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Markab
  • As you push yourself to stay awake, slide your scope over to NGC 7448, found 1.5 degrees northwest of Markab (Alpha Pegasi), the star marking the southwestern corner of the Great Square.

Examples

  • Markab, Al Wazor.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The stars in the Great Square are Alpheratz, Scheat, Markab, and Algenib.

  • You'll now know them as Acubens, 'the claws' of the Crab, and as Markab, 'the saddle.'

Surface Forms

Markab main

Etymology

Markab comes from the Arabic name al-markab, which means 'saddle' or 'thing to ride'. Because Pegasus is a horse in the sky, the bright star Markab was named for the horse's 'saddle' and is still used today as a clear reference point to find other stars.