Alkaphrah
Designations
- Bayer: κ UMa
- Flamsteed: 12 UMa
- Hipparchos: HIP 44471
Data
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Apparent Magnitude: 3.55
- Right Ascension (J2000): 09h03m35.55s
- Declination (J2000): +47°09'27".8
- Colour Index (B-V): 0.00
- Distance: 358.41±19.69ly
Nomenclature
Alkaphrah
The indigenous Arabian title for the asterism composed of ι, κ, λ, μ, ν, & ξ UMa was al-Qafazāt, 'the leaps [of the gazelle]', part of the greater scene of al-Ẓibā’, 'the gazelles'. al-Qafazāt was corrupted by Latin translators and applied as a star name to κ UMa in modern times.
Talitha Australis
Together with ι UMa, this star comprised the indigenous Arabian asterism al-Qafzat al-Ṯāliṯa, 'the third leap', part of the greater asterism al-Qafazāt (see above). al-Qafzat al-Ṯāliṯa was abbreviated and transliterated as Talitha, the Latin epithet australis applied to indicate it was the 'southerly' one of the two stars.