Alkaid
Designations
- Bayer: η UMa
- Flamsteed: 85 UMa
- Hipparchos: HIP 67301
Data
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Apparent Magnitude: 1.86
- Right Ascension (J2000): 13h47m31.78s
- Declination (J2000): +49°19'05".3
- Colour Index (B-V): -0.19
- Distance: 103.94±0.79ly
Nomenclature
Alkaid, or Benetnasch
Alkaid and Benetnasch both come from indigenous Arabic titles. Alkaid is from al-Qā’id, 'the leader', while Benetnasch comes from Arabic Banāt Naʽš, 'the daughters of the bier (a coffin along with its stand)'. The names come from the indigenous Arabian scene of the Mourning Maidens, an asterism equivalent to the Big Dipper. The asterism of α, β, γ, & δ UMa comprised Naʽš, 'the bier', while ε, ζ, & η UMa comprised Banāt Naʽš. Thus, η UMa was 'the leader' of the mourning maidens, with both Alkaid and Benetnasch becoming names for the star in medieval times.