The protecting Mother Camels (Arabic العوائذ alʽawaʼid) is an asterism in the constellation of Draco described by ancient Arabic nomadic tribes. The asterism was interpreted as a ring of mother camels – Beta Draconis (Rastaban), Gamma Draconis (Eltanin), Nu Draconis (Kuma) and Xi Draconis (Grumium) – surrounding a foal (the faint star Alruba), with another mother camel, Mu Draconis (Alrakis) running to join them.[1][2]

The Arabs did not see the constellation Draco as it is now. The Mother Camels were protecting the foal from the attack of two wolves or jackals – Zeta Draconis (Aldhibah) and Eta Draconis (Athebyne). The faint pair Omega Draconis and 27 Draconis was known as the "wolf's claws" (الأظفار الذئب al-ʼaẓfār al-dhiʼb).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (rep. ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. p. 207-212. ISBN 0-486-21079-0.
  2. ↑ Garfinkle, Robert A. (2008). Star-Hopping: Your Visa to Viewing the Universe (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0521598897. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
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