The Hardest Star Names in the Sky | July 6 - July 12
Season 49 Episode 27 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STG619 July 6-12, 2026 “The Hardest Star Names in the Sky July 2026”
Star Gazers STG619 July 6-12, 2026 “The Hardest Star Names in the Sky July 2026”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation
The Hardest Star Names in the Sky | July 6 - July 12
Season 49 Episode 27 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Star Gazers STG619 July 6-12, 2026 “The Hardest Star Names in the Sky July 2026”
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipZUBEN-EL-SHAL-GHEN.
WHAT?
OH!
HI# STAR FAM - TRACE HERE!
TRYING TO NAIL THIS PRONUNCIATION OF THESE# TWO STAR NAMES.
LEMME SHOW YOU - HIT THE DARKNESS JUST AFTER SUNSET ANY NIGHT# THIS WEEK.
LOOK SOUTH FOR RED ANTARES AND BLUE SPICA - IF YOU MADE A THICK LINE - LIKE# A HIGHLIGHTER BETWEEN THE TWO YOU’LL SEE TWO SEMI-BRIGHT STARS WITH SOME OF THE# STRANGEST SOUNDING NAMES IN THE HEAVENS.
OK THEY ARE: ZUBENESCHAMALI AND ZUBENELGENUBI YES!!!
OKAY SO, THESE TWO ARE THE# HANGY BITS OF LIBRA THE SCALES!
THE THING IS, ZUBENESCHAMALI MEANS 'THE# NORTHERN CLAW' AND ZUBENELGENUBI MEANS 'THE SOUTHERN CLAW’ IN ARABIC.# THERE ARE NO CLAWS IN SCALES!!
SEE THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO THEY# WERE THE CLAWS OF THE SCORPION, BUT JULIUS CAESAR AND HIS CRONIES# CAME ALONG AND LOPPED THEM OFF AND RENAMED THEM “LIBRA THE SCALES”# FOR THE SYMBOL OF ROMAN JUSTICE.
SHOW YOUR FRIENDS AND TRY TO SAY# ZUBENELGENUBI; KEEP LOOKING UP!
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Star Gazers is presented by your local public television station.
Funding provided by The Batchelor Foundation and The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation