Achernar

[ ey-ker-nahr ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Eridanus.

Achernar

/ ˈeɪkəˌnɑː /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Eridanus, visible only in the S hemisphere. Visual magnitude: 0.5; spectral type: B3V; distance: 144 light years

Word History and Origins

Origin of Achernar¹

From Arabic ākhir al-nahr “end of the river”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Achernar¹

from Arabic ākhīr al-nahr, literally: end of the river, alluding to the star's location in the constellation

Example Sentences

Dante speaks of the four bright stars of the Southern Cross as emblematical of the four cardinal virtues, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude, and Prudence; and he seems to refer to the stars Canopus, Achernar, and Foomalhaut under the symbols of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

From Project Gutenberg

TALCAHUANO, Chile — Eric Pineda, a dock agent in this old port south of Santiago, peered deep into the Achernar’s hold at a measly 10 tons of jack mackerel — the catch after four days in waters once so rich they filled the 17-meter fishing boat in a few hours.

From New York Times

Eridanus ends in the southern hemisphere near a first-magnitude star called Achernar, which is situated in the stream, but can not be seen from our latitudes.

From Project Gutenberg

The part visible in our latitudes does not contain bright stars, but at the southern extremity is the first-magnitude Achernar, a conspicuous object to southern observers.

From Project Gutenberg

It is supposed to be identical with the Achernar of Al-Sufi, who described it as of the first magnitude; this star has therefore decreased in brilliancy in historic times.

From Project Gutenberg