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Arcturus

Arcturus

3 8.8
A very bright star visible in the northern night sky
  • proper noun
  • /ɑrˈktjʊrəs/
: Arcturus
  • As we gazed at the night sky, Arcturus shone brightly, marking the arrival of spring.
  • Arcturus star
  • bright Arcturus
  • Arcturus in the constellation

Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season, or guide Arcturus with his sons?

Examples

  • If you've been told all your life by people you believe that the bright star that follows Orion is Arcturus, you believe it.

    Blog text (9)
  • "Far below Arcturus and to the right... the very bright one...

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In Greek mythology, Zeus placed Arcturus in the sky to protect other stars.

    Academic text (2007)
  • I can't go to sleep anymore, not before Arcturus comes up over the horizon, and I can stare at it, stare and remember.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Antares appeared in our south, Vega cramped our necks when we looked to the zenith, and Arcturus, the brightest star of the early summer sky, sets to our west.

    Blog text (28)
  • On a clear night, you can easily spot Arcturus, the brightest star in the constellation Boötes.

  • Skywatchers often look for Arcturus when stargazing, as it is one of the most prominent stars visible from Earth.

Surface Forms

Arcturus main

Etymology

Arcturus comes from Greek parts arktos 'bear' and ouros 'guardian', so it means 'guardian of the bear'. That fits the star because it sits near the 'Great Bear' group of stars, and the same arktos root is in Arctic, which can help you remember the 'bear' idea.