Alpha Capricorni
Encyclopedia
Alpha Capricorni is an optical double
Double star
In observational astronomy, a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth when viewed through an optical telescope. This can happen either because the pair forms a binary star, i.e...

 star in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....

 Capricornus
Capricornus
Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac; it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding astrological sign. Its name is Latin for "horned male goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half...

. It has the traditional names Algiedi, Al Giedi, Algedi or Giedi; however, Giedi is sometimes also associated with β Capricorni
Beta Capricorni
Beta Capricorni is a star system in the constellation Capricornus. It has the traditional name Dabih, which comes from the Arabic الذابح al-dhābiḥ, meaning "the butcher". The β Capricorni system is located 328 light years from Earth...

.

The name Algedi is derived from the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 word الجدي al-jady, meaning "the billy goat" or "kid," and also refers to the entire constellation of Capricornus. It is known as 牛宿二 (the Second Star of the Ox) in Chinese.

The two unassociated star system
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...

s in the optical double are:
  • α¹ Capricorni
    Alpha¹ Capricorni
    Alpha¹ Capricorni is a binary star in the constellation Capricornus. It also has the traditional star name Prima Giedi or Algiedi Prima, and shares the name Algedi with α² Capricorni...

    , also called Prima Giedi
  • α² Capricorni
    Alpha² Capricorni
    Alpha² Capricorni is a star in the constellation Capricornus. It also has the traditional star name Secunda Giedi or Algiedi Secunda, and shares the name Algedi with α¹ Capricorni.In Chinese, , meaning Ox , refers to an asterism consisting of α² Capricorni, β Capricorni, ξ2...

    , also called Secunda Giedi

They are separated by 0.11° on the sky, and resolvable with the naked eye, similar to Mizar
Mizar (star)
The Mizar–Alcor stellar sextuple system consists of the quadruple system Mizar and the binary system Alcor.- Description :Mizar is a quadruple system of two binary stars in the constellation Ursa Major and is the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle. Its apparent magnitude is 2.23...

 and Alcor.
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