Mother Camels
Encyclopedia
The Arabs did not see the constellation Draco as it is now, but in fact they had three sectors in this constelations. the main sector or part was the protecting mother camels, the other parts is the star μ Dra which was called the dancer الراقص and the other part is the wolfs nails or fingerprint (أظفار الذئب).
The protecting Mother Camels (Arabic al'awa'id العوائذ) is the name given by ancient Arabic nomadic tribes to an asterism
in the constellation
of Draco
. Instead of the head of a dragon, the asterism is interpreted as a ring of mother camels (formed by γ Dra, ξ Dra, ν Dra and β Dra) surrounding a baby camel (the faint star in the middle), with another mother camel (μ Dra) running to join them. The camels were seen to be protecting the baby from a line of charging hyenas (ι Dra, θ Dra, η Dra, and ζ Dra).
The protecting Mother Camels (Arabic al'awa'id العوائذ) is the name given by ancient Arabic nomadic tribes to an asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
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....
of Draco
Draco (constellation)
Draco is a constellation in the far northern sky. Its name is Latin for dragon. Draco is circumpolar for many observers in the northern hemisphere...
. Instead of the head of a dragon, the asterism is interpreted as a ring of mother camels (formed by γ Dra, ξ Dra, ν Dra and β Dra) surrounding a baby camel (the faint star in the middle), with another mother camel (μ Dra) running to join them. The camels were seen to be protecting the baby from a line of charging hyenas (ι Dra, θ Dra, η Dra, and ζ Dra).