An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The brightest star in the constellation → Eridanus. A → subgiant of → spectral type B5; apparent visual magnitude 0.5, about 140 → light-years distant (other names: HR 472, HD 10144). Recent interferometric observations show it to have a flattened shape imposed by fast rotation.

Etymology (EN): Achernar, from Ar. Axir an-Nahr “end of the river,” from axir “end” + nahr “river”.

Etymology (PE): Âxer-e nahr, from Axir an-Nahr.
Rudpâyân “river’s end,” from rud “river,” → Eridanus, + pâyân “end”.