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To: TaraP
Betelgeuse, whose name derives from Arabic, is easily visible in the constellation Orion. It gave Michael Keaton's character his name in the movie "Beetlejuice" and was the home system of Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

Very informative, but when did fictional characters and "home systems" become the stuff of news?

29 posted on 06/10/2009 9:32:30 PM PDT by keepitreal (Obama brings change: an international crisis (terrorism) within 6 months)
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To: keepitreal
In ARABIC-The meaning of the name Betelgeuse is Hand Of The Central One Betelgeuse (pronounced /ˈbiːtəldʒuːz/ or /ˈbɛtəldʒuːz/[6]) (α Ori, α Orionis, Alpha Orionis) is a semiregular variable star located approximately 600 light-years away from Earth.[1][2] It is the second brightest star in the constellation Orion and the ninth brightest star in the night sky. Although Betelgeuse has the Bayer designation alpha, Rigel (Beta Orionis) is usually brighter (Betelgeuse is a variable star and is on occasion brighter than Rigel). The star is a vertex of the Winter Triangle asterism. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant, relatively luminous, and one of the largest stars known. For comparison, if the star were at the center of our solar system its surface might extend out to between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, wholly engulfing Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The angular diameter of Betelgeuse was first measured in 1920–1921 by Michelson and Pease using an astronomical interferometer on the Mount Wilson 100 inch telescope. Astronomers believe Betelgeuse is only a few million years old, but has evolved rapidly because of its high mass.[7] Some astronomers believe it may become a supernova within a timeframe where it could be observable by human civilization. Because of its rich reddish color the star has also been called "the martial one" and in astrology Betelgeuse portends military or civic honors. This bright star has had many other names: Al Dhira ("the Arm")[9] Al Mankib ("the Shoulder"),[9] Al Yad al Yamma ("the Right Hand"),[9] Ardra (Hindi[9], Bengali and name of Hindu Nakshatra), Bahu (Sanskrit),[9] Bašn (Persian) ("the Arm"), Ied Algeuze ("Orion's Hand"),[9] Klaria (Coptic) ("an Armlet")[9] Yedelgeuse In Chinese, Betelgeuse is known as 参宿四 (Shēnsùsì, the Fourth Star of the Constellation of Three Stars) because the Constellation of Three Stars was at first a name for only three stars in the girdle of the Orion. Four more stars were later added to this constellation but the earlier name stuck.
38 posted on 06/10/2009 9:45:47 PM PDT by TaraP (Unless we stand for something, we will fall for everything.")
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To: keepitreal
Very informative, but when did fictional characters and "home systems" become the stuff of news?

About 30 yrs or so after Carter created the Dept of Education?

62 posted on 06/10/2009 10:17:59 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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