Dictionary term
Markab
Direct answer
Markab is Alpha Pegasi, a blue-white giant marking the southwestern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.
Markab is the lower western corner of Pegasus's Great Square.
Markab is the lower western corner of Pegasus's Great Square.
A symbolic locator, not a substitute for an observational chart at a specific place and time.Quick reference
- Use when
- Identify Markab below Scheat, then move west through Homam toward Enif.
- Do not use it for
- Different map orientations can make “lower” or “western” visual descriptions appear reversed.
- Reference category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related terms
- Diphda, Alpheratz, Scheat, Enif
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The story behind Markab
Its Arabic-derived name is associated with the saddle or vehicle of the winged-horse figure.
Markab in spiritual tradition
Markab gives the enormous autumn square a firm corner from which to travel.
Markab: fact and faith, kept distinct
This is a factual sky reference. It can support wonder and orientation without turning a measured position or inherited pattern into a claim of fate or private revelation.
Markab in numerology
Markab is not a numerology claim. Any numbers attached to it should retain their ordinary scientific, calendrical, navigational, or historical meaning unless a separate symbolic interpretation is clearly labeled.
Why Markab matters
Its position helps establish the square's orientation and the line toward Pegasus's neck and autumn water constellations.
Markab at work: an example
A line across the square from Alpheratz to Markab points toward southern autumn sky regions.
Where interpretation stops
Markab is presented as sourced astronomy, calendrical, Earth-science, cultural, or instrument-history reference. Definitions should distinguish measured phenomena from civil convention and historical interpretation, preserve location and time dependencies, and avoid turning factual sky data into a deterministic personal claim.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- IAU Division C Working Group on Star Names - Official IAU working group responsible for standardizing star names used in international astronomy.
- CDS SIMBAD Astronomical Database - Professional astronomical database for stellar identifiers, positions, classifications, and bibliography.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Also appears in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-16
Set the western base of the Great Square
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Common questions
What is Markab?
Markab is Alpha Pegasi, a blue-white giant marking the southwestern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.
How is Markab used in an almanac?
Identify Markab below Scheat, then move west through Homam toward Enif.
What should I avoid when interpreting Markab?
Different map orientations can make “lower” or “western” visual descriptions appear reversed.
