| Fixed star: ALSUHAIL | |
| Constellation: Lambda (λ) Vela – in the Ship Argo Navis | |
| Longitude 1900: 09VIR49 | Longitude 2000: 11VIR11 |
| Declination 1900: -43.02′ | Declination 2000: -43.26′ |
| Right ascension: 09h 07m | Latitude: -55.51′ |
| Spectral class: K4 | Magnitude: 2.2 |
The history of the star: Alsuhail
from p.72 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage
Lambda (λ) Vela, Alsuhail, is a star in the Sails of Argo Navis, the Great Ship.
Al Sufi’s Al Suhail al Wazn, “Suhail of the Weight” Suhail means “Smooth Plain”, Wazn meaning “weight” applied to stars near the horizon – “as the star seems to rise with difficulty from the horizon”; Wazn is also the title of stars in Canis Major, Centaurus, and Columba
With zeta Puppis (Naos), gamma (ζ) Vela, this was one of the Al Muhlifain, Muhlifain or Muhnithain, (by which reference was made to the statement that at their rising some mistook them for Suhail (Canopus), and the consequent arguments were the occasion of much profanity among the Arabs). Muliphein is also the name of the gamma star of Canis Major (Muliphein). [Translation of Muliphein on Steve Gibson’s page: “the two causing dispute and the swearing of an oath” – an oath is a pledge, declaration or promise, to utter or bind oneself to something. Or it can also be profane cursing and swearing].
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The astrological influences of the constellation Vela
No myths or astrological interpretations are associated with the constellation Vela because this constellation had always been seen as part of the constellation Argo Navis, the Great Ship, until French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752 subdivided Argo Navis into Carina (the keel of the ship), Puppis (the poop), and Vela (the sails), plus a subordinate division of Argo now called Pyxis Nautica. The constellation Argo Navis represents the ship in which Jason brought the Golden Fleece from Colchis, said to be the first ship ever built.
The astrological influences for the whole constellation of Argo Navis, the Great Ship: According to Ptolemy the bright stars are like Saturn and Jupiter. Argo is said to give prosperity in trade and voyages, and strength of mind and spirit, but it has been observed to accompany cases of drowning, a notable instance being furnished by the horoscope of Shelley, where Argo occupied the 8th house and contained the Sun, Venus and Uranus. Drowning is particularly to be feared when Saturn afflicts the Moon in or from Argo. It is probably on account of this constellation that Virgo, especially the first decanate, is frequently found to be connected with drowning. [Robson, p.30.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].