| Fixed star: ALZIRR | |
| Constellation: Xi Gemini | |
| Longitude 1900: 09CAN49 | Longitude 2000: 11CAN13 |
| Declination 1900: +13.00′ | Declination 2000: +12.54′ |
| Right ascension: 06h 45m | Latitude: -10.06′ |
| Spectral class: F5 | Magnitude: 3.4 |
The history of the star: Alzirr
from p.237 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage
Xi (ξ) Gemini, Alzirr, is a 4th-magnitude star on the right foot of the Eastern Twin (Pollux) in the constellation of the Twins.
It was the Persian astronomer Al Biruni’s (973-1048 A.D.) Al Zirr, the Button.
Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889].
The Lunar Mansions
Alzirr, xi Gemini, was included in the Arabic 4th manzil, Al Han’ah, “The brand-mark”. Al Han’ah, the 4th manzil (Arabic Moon Mansion), comprised of; gamma (γ Alhena), mu (μ Tejat Posterior), nu (ν), eta (η Propus), and xi (ξ this star Alzirr), in the feet of the Twins. This word, Al Han’ah, usually translated a Brand, or Mark, on the right side of a camel’s, or horse’s, neck, was defined by the Persian astronomer Al Biruni (973-1048 A.D.) as Winding, as though the stars of this station were winding around each other, or curving from the central star; and they were Al Nuhatai, the dual form of Al Nuhat, a Camel’s Hump, itself a curved line. Some Arabic authority found in them, with chi (χ) and chi (χ) of Orion, the Bow with which the Hunter (Orion) is shooting at the Lion (Arabs had an enormous Lion, their early Asad, extending over a third of the heavens). [p.234 of Star Names
Influences of the 4th Arabic Moon Mansion Al Hanah: Favorable for hunting, besieging towns, and the revenge of princes, destroys harvests and fruits, and hinders the operation of the physician. [Robson, p.71].
With Moon transiting here: plough, sow, but do not travel. [Robson, p.71].
The astrological influences of the constellation Gemini
Legend: The constellation represents Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Leda and Jupiter. It has also been suggested that it may represent Apollo and Hercules. [Robson, p.45.]
Influences: Ptolemy makes the following observations; the stars in the feet of Gemini have an influence similar to that of Mercury, and moderately to that of Venus; the bright stars in the thighs are like Saturn. It is said to cause trouble and disgrace, sickness, loss of fortune, affliction and danger to the knees. By the Cabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Qoph and the 19th Tarot Trump, The Sun”. [Robson, p.46.]
The astrological influences of the constellation Gemini given by Manilius:
“The arms to shoulders joined are accounted to the Twins” [Manilius, p.119.]
“From the Twins come less laborious callings and a more agreeable way of life, provided by varied song and voices of harmonious tone, slender pipes, the melodies inborn in strings and the words fitted thereto: those so endowed find even work a pleasure. They would banish the arms of war, the trumpet’s call, and the gloom of old age: theirs is a life of ease and unfading youth spent in the arms of love. They also discover paths to the skies, complete a survey of the heavens with numbers and measurements, and outstrip the flight of the stars: nature yields to their genius, which it serves in all things. So many are the accomplishments of which the Twins are fruitful.” [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD. p.281.]
References:
Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].