Writer's Block: AKA

[zubeneschamali]

[Error: unknown template qotd]For some reason I get asked this question fairly often...wonder why? *eyeroll*

Zubeneschamali (ZOO-ben-es-sha-MAH-lee) is the second-brightest star in the constellation Libra.  It means "northern claw" in Arabic because for Arab astronomers, it was part of the constellation Scorpius.  (Zubenelgenubi is its sister star; its meaning in Arabic is an exercise left to the reader.)  In the Northern Hemisphere, you can see it in the summer low on the southern horizon; it's relatively bright, even in urban areas.

I think it was during the summer before my senior year of high school when I came across the name three times within a few weeks: in an astronomy day camp I was volunteering at, in James Michener's Space, and I can't remember the third time.  But the name stuck with me because it was so unusual and because at that point in time, I wanted to be an astronomer.  A couple of years later in college, this thing called the Internet got my attention, and when I needed a username for various listservs and such, I figured it was distinctive, memorable, and would remain relevant for a long time.  I was right.  :)

Of course, I stll need to sound it out in my head pretty much every time I type it.

Comments

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

I like Zubeneschamali *much* more than Zubenelgenubi! *g*

Good choice!

[lark_ascends]

That would be the name that one of the ex-Masters students here would always pull out in the planetarium shows, much to the amusement of the high school audience, usually. And yet, I'd never made the connection with your name -- hadn't seen it written down!

And, hey, welcome to my flist, person who I see all the time on ff.net! Just had a quick look through the first page of your journal -- one thing I'll warn you about, I'm a massive spoilerphobe, and Australia is often behind on TV shows, so I would love if episode reactions for shows are LJ-cut, so the shows we're not up to yet I don't get spoiled on.