Altair

[ al-tair, -tahyuhr, al-tair, -tahyuhr ]

noun

1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Aquila.

Altair

/ ˈæltɛə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. Visual magnitude: 0.77; spectral type: A7V; distance: 16.8 light years

Altair

/ ăl-târ′,-tīr′ /

1. A bright white star in the constellation Aquila. Altair is a main-sequence star in the Hertzprung-Russell diagram. It is the 12th brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 0.77. Altair, along with Vega and Deneb, form the Summer Triangle asterism. Scientific name: Alpha Aquilae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

< Arabic ( al-nasr ) al-ṭā'ir (the) flying (eagle)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

Arabic, from al the + tā'ir bird