Markeb

Vela · κ Vel · HR 3734

HIP45941
IAU adoption2017/09/05

Name origin

Evidently from the Arabic word markab, "a ship or any vehicle," presumably standing for the Greek constellation name Argo. However, sci-A sources do not mention markab for Argo, only al-safina ("the Ship"), hence the ultimate origin of the name remains a mystery. "Markeb" was applied as a star name to ρ Pup in medieval times, to κ Pup in Renaissance rimes, and finally to κ Vel in recent times when Argo was divided into its four modern constellations

Alternative names

  • No alternative names yet.