Pi1 Cygni

Pi1 Cygni (π¹ Cyg, π¹ Cygni) is the Bayer designation for a star in the constellation Cygnus. It has the traditional name Azelfafage.

In Chinese, 螣蛇 (Téng Shé), meaning Flying Serpent, refers to an asterism consisting of π¹ Cygni, α Lacertae, 4 Lacertae, π² Cygni, HD 206267, ε Cephei, β Lacertae, σ Cassiopeiae, ρ Cassiopeiae, τ Cassiopeiae, AR Cassiopeiae, 9 Lacertae, 3 Andromedae, 7 Andromedae, 8 Andromedae, λ Andromedae, κ Andromedae, ψ Andromedae and ι Andromedae. Consequently, π¹ Cygni itself is known as 螣蛇四 (Téng Shé sì, English: the Fourth Star of Flying Serpent)^[1]

Structure

Pi¹ Cygni has apparent magnitude +4.67 and belongs to the spectral class B3IV. It is approximately 1680 light years from Earth.

Coordinates (equinox J2000.0):

• Right ascension: 21h 42m 5.7s
• Declination: +51°11'23.0"

HIP 107136 HR 8301

Etymology

The name Azelfafage was from Arabic ظلف الفرس Dhilf al-faras meaning "the horse track" or (probably) ذيل الدجاجة Dhail al-dajāja^h meaning "the tail of hen".^[2]

References

1. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 7 日
2. p. 197, Star-names and Their Meanings, Richard Hinckley Allen, New York, G. E. Stechert, 1899.