Achernar

American  

[ey-ker-nahr] / ˈeɪ kərˌnɑr /

noun

Astronomy.

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

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Achernar British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of Achernar

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

Example Sentences

Latitude by altitude of Achernar, 15 degrees 39 minutes 43 seconds. 25th November.

From Journals of Australian Explorations by Gregory, Augustus Charles

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 The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various

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 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various

From Alpherat, North and East, Andromeda shoots, Like a branch, with Mirach and Almach; while, far in the South, Achernar shines, a beacon-light, at the "End of the River."

From How Girls Can Help Their Country by Low, Juliette Gordon

Lower still, toward the south, Achernar seemed to reserve his gracious prestige, whilst, across the invisible Pole, the beneficent constellations of Crux and Centaurus exhibited the very paralysis of hopelessness.

From Such Is Life by Furphy, Joseph