α Capricorni (
Latinised to
Alpha Capricorni) is the system's
Bayer designation;
α1 and
α2 Capricorni, those of the two components. Alpha Capricorni bore the traditional names
Algedi,
Algiedi,
Al Giedi or
Giedi, derived from the
Arabic الجدي al-jady "the billy goat" or "kid". It also refers to the entire constellation of Capricornus.
Giedi is sometimes also associated with
Beta Capricorni.
α1 and
α2 Capricorni were also called
Prima Giedi and
Secunda Giedi, respectively. In 2016, the
International Astronomical Union organized a
Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name
Algedi for
α2 Capricorni on 21 August 2016 and it is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names. Alpha Capricorni is known as 牛宿二 (the Second Star of
the Ox) in
Chinese astronomy. ==References==