Fixed star Mirfak

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Mirfak at 02°05′ Gemini has an orb of 2°20′
Fixed star Mirfak

Perseus Constellation [Stellarium]

The Sun joins Mirfak on May 22

Fixed Star Mirfak, Alpha Persei (α Per), is a 2nd magnitude single star in the constellation Perseus.
      Magnitude 1.81, spectral type F5 Ib, color yellow-white. It is the central star of a young open star cluster known as the Alpha Persei Cluster (Melotte 20). [1]

α Per is officially named Mirfak.
      Applied in recent times from an abbreviation of its Indigenous Arabic name, mirfaq al-thurayya, “the Elbow of the Pleiades,” for its location in the pre-Islamic Arabian asterism here (kaff althurayya al-yumna al-mabsuta, “the Outstretched Right Hand of the Pleiades,” extended from today’s Taurus through Perseus into Cassiopeia
      or Algenib. Applied with various spellings since medieval times, from the Arabic word al-janb, “the side, or flank,” used in the Arabic Almagest in describing this star. Renaissance scholars explained the word erroneously as from the Arabic al-jānib (instead of the correct al-janb, but of the same meaning), transliterated as “Algenib,” and this last form afterwards was adopted by Western astronomers. [2]

α, 2.1, brilliant lilac and ashy.
      Algenib, with the early variations of Algeneb, Elgenab, Genib, Chenib, and Alchemb, is from Al Janb, “the Side,” its present position on the maps; Chrysococca similarly called it Πλευρά Περσάους, “Perseus Side.”
      Another name, Marfak or Mirfak, the Elbow, sometimes written Mirzac, comes from the Arabians’ Marfiḳ al Thurayya, thus qualified as being next to the Pleiades to distinguish it from the other elbow. But this may indicate a different representation of Perseus in their day, — a suspicion strengthened by the nomenclature of others of his stars, especially of ξ and ο.
      Assemani alluded to a title on the Borgian globe, — Mughammid, or Muḣammir, al Thurayya, “the Concealer of the Pleiades,” — which, from its location, may be for this star. [3]

In Chinese astronomy, α Per is named 天船三 Tiānchuánsān, “Celestial Boat III.” It belongs to the asterism Tianchuan (Celestial Boat) in the 17th lunar mansion Wèi (Stomach). [4]

2000*2050NameOrb
26♉1026♉52Algol2°10′
00♊0000♊42Alcyone2°00′
02♊0502♊47Mirfak2°20′
05♊4906♊31Hyadum I1°40′
06♊5307♊35Hyadum II1°30′

Mirfak Astrology

Fixed star Mirfak has the spectral type F5, indicating the planetary nature of Mercury (compare Procyon).

MERCURY:   If rising, honor, intellect, great learning. If culminating, business activity and gain through books and intellectual matters. [5]

SPECTRAL CLASS F:   A thoughtful, serious, sincere, hardworking, adventurous, private, demanding and self-centered nature. Career and material success; the ability to lead and conquer; mental keenness; determination; endurance; a rise followed by a fall; melancholy; self-destruction; and possibly violence. Harsh aspects can cause impatience, irritability, hostility, excessive drive, and an overly ambitious nature. [6]

Algenib I: From the Arabic for “side,” as it is positioned above the side, or hip, of Perseus. α Persei; possesses a Jupiter-Saturn nature, characterized by a high, intellectual radiance. With the Sun in the 10th house, it signifies fame as a writer (Balzac). When associated with the Sun, Venus, and the Ascendant, positioned at the transition from Taurus to Gemini, strengthened by a trine [opposition] of Uranus from the 10th [6th] house: musical genius (Richard Wagner). [7]

Mirfak is a sign of woe in those charts in which it is prominent.
      The nebula al-Thirayya (Alpha Persei Cluster) is also a harmful object which portends accidents to sight and blindness. In fact, all nebulae have an evil reputation and are considered dangerous to the eyes. [8]

Asterism Tianchuan the Celestial Boat

28♉42 to 12♊19

Tianchuan (Celestial Boat) represents the warships of the Heavenly General and governs water crossings, floods and droughts.

If the stars of Tianchuan are bright, the world will be at peace; if they are dim or shift position, the world will suffer war and loss. If the moon transgresses Tianchuan, all rivers will overflow, and ferry crossings will be impassable. If any of the five planets transgress Tianchuan, water will overflow, and people will be forced to migrate. If a comet invades it, great floods will occur. If a guest star (unexpected star or nova) invades it, flooding and war will follow. If a blue cloud enters Tianchuan, the emperor will be worried and cannot sail; if it is red, it signifies war and the mobilization of warships; if it is yellow or white, the emperor will be pleased. [9]

Constellation Perseus the Champion

12♉02 to 18♊06

PERSEUS.   The Champion
      Legend.   Perseus, the son of Jupiter and Danæ, was furnished with the sword, cap and wings of Mercury and the shield of Minerva. He killed the Medusa by cutting off her head and afterward rescued and married Andromeda. On his return home, he inadvertently killed his grandfather Acrisius and pined away through grief, whereupon Jupiter took pity on him and placed him among the stars.
      Influence.   According to Ptolemy, Perseus is like Jupiter and Saturn. It is said to give an intelligent, strong, bold and adventurous nature, but a tendency to lying. By the Kabbalists, it is associated with the Hebrew letter Lamed and the 12th Tarot Trump “The Hanged Man.”
      Magical.   Frees from envy and witchcraft and preserves from lightning and tempests. [1]

Called Cacodaemon by medieval astrologers, Perseus (Per) indicates events affecting large numbers of people, especially those caused by major meteorological phenomena.

 Alpha Persei, Mirfak

Alpha Persei, Mirfak [aapod2.com]

Fixed Star Mirfak Conjunctions

Ascendant conjunct Mirfak: Honor, intellect, great learning. [5]

Robert the Bruce 0°03′, Madeleine of Valois 0°08′, Euel Box 0°09′ (and N. Node), Juliette Drouet 0°10′, Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria 0°10′, Eric Edwards 0°12′, Mitt Romney 0°18′, Charlie Sheen 0°20′, Richard Dreyfuss 0°23′, Tommy Lee Jones 0°25′, George Peppard 0°41′ (and S. Node), Jennifer Gibbons 0°41′, Michael Stich 0°45′, Amanda Byrne 0°46′, Elsie Wheeler 0°50′ (and Neptune), Priyanka Chopra 0°52′, Anita Garibaldi 0°57′, Frédéric Bastiat 0°59′ (and Venus), Kathie Lee Gifford 0°59′, Andrew Greeley 1°03′, Richard Wagner 1°07′ (and Sun, Venus), JonBenét Ramsey 1°23′, Neil Armstrong 1°24′, Isabella Melo 1°26′, Gregory Peck 1°35′ (and Venus), Rufus Wainwright 1°36′.

Midheaven conjunct Mirfak: Business activity and gain through books and intellectual matters. [5]

Sun conjunct Mirfak: Honoré de Balzac 0°03′, Richard Wagner 1°06′ (and Venus, AC).

Venus conjunct Mirfak: Frederic Bastiat 0°10′ (and AC), Richard Wagner 0°13′ (and Sun, AC), Gregory Peck 0°48′ (and AC).

Mars conjunct Mirfak: Jeb Stuart 0°58′.

Neptune conjunct Mirfak: Elsie Wheeler 0°25′ (and AC).

North Node conjunct Mirfak: George Peppard 0°36′ (and AC),  Euel Box 1°23′ (and AC).

References

  1. Mirfak (Alpha Persei): Star Facts.
  2. A Dictionary of Modern Star Names, Kunitzch, Smart, 2006, pp. 48-49.
  3. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Richard H. Allen, 1889, p.329-335.
  4. Twenty-Eight Mansions – Baidu Encyclopedia.
  5. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.56, 100, 232.
  6. The Power of the Fixed Stars, Joseph E. Rigor, 1979, p.246.
  7. Course in scientific natal astrology; Volume 2, Johannes Vehlow, 1934, p.250.
  8. Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990. p.21.
  9. Song History, Volume 50, Chapter 3, 1346.