Star lore
Zubenelgenubi
Direct answer
Zubenelgenubi is Alpha Librae, a multiple star marking the southern side of Libra.
Zubenelgenubi is Libra's southern claw star and a wide binocular double.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Constellations & Star Lore
- Related
- Alkaid, Denebola, Zubeneschamali, Unukalhai
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The story behind Zubenelgenubi
The Arabic-derived name means southern claw, retaining an older constellation arrangement.
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Why Zubenelgenubi matters
Zubenelgenubi’s name preserves the era when Libra's stars were treated as the claws of Scorpius.
How to read Zubenelgenubi
Look northwest of Antares for the southern Libra star, then use binoculars to separate its wide components.
Zubenelgenubi in practice: an example
Zubenelgenubi’s two bright components share common motion and are easily distinguished in modest binoculars.
Where readings of Zubenelgenubi go wrong
The old claw meaning does not place the star inside modern Scorpius; it is officially in Libra.
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
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Split Libra's southern claw
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Common questions
What is Zubenelgenubi?
Zubenelgenubi is Alpha Librae, a multiple star marking the southern side of Libra.
What does the name Zubenelgenubi mean?
The Arabic-derived name means southern claw, retaining an older constellation arrangement.
What do people get wrong about Zubenelgenubi?
The old claw meaning does not place the star inside modern Scorpius; it is officially in Libra.
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