A Star Named SHARJAH
The name came within the framework of the International Space Federation's project to name a number of star systems by the member states of the International Astronomical Union.
In 2015, the International Astronomical Union marked its first 100 years of fostering international collaboration (IAU100) by launching the first-ever IAU NameExoWorlds competition, which named 19 "ExoWorlds." In 2019, the IAU launched the second competition and invited every country to participate in naming one planetary system each, comprised of an exoplanet and its host star. Each country's designated star is visible from that country and sufficiently bright enough to be observed through a small telescope.
A Brief of commissioned SAASST for naming
The IAU commissioned members of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology Academy to collaborate nationally in order to name the following exoplanet for the UAE
Star Identification
HIP 79431
Type
Red, Dwarf
Constellation
Scorpius
Everything you need
about the Named
NameExoWorlds
NameExoWorlds offers the opportunity for all countries in the world to give a name to one exoplanet and its hosting star.
Red Dwarf Star
A red dwarf is the smallest and coolest kind of star on the main sequence. Red dwarfs are by far the most common type of star in the Milky Way, at least in the neighborhood of the Sun, but because of their low luminosity, individual red dwarfs cannot be easily observed.
HIP 79431
Red dwarf star with a non-stellar companion in the constellation Scorpius. It has the proper name Sharjah, as selected in the NameExoWorlds campaign by United Arab Emirates, during the 100th anniversary of the IAU.
Scorpius Constellation
Scorpius is one of the constellations of the zodiac and is located in the Southern celestial hemisphere. Scorpius is one of the 48 constellations identified by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century.
A UAE National Committee for the IAU100 NameExoWorlds competition was formed under the chairmanship of H.E. Professor Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, General Director of the Academy. A two-phase nationwide voting process was conducted to select two names - one for the exoplanet and one for the star it orbits.
On December 15, 2019, the IAU announced the results for all countries. For the UAE, the HIP 79431 star became officially known as "Sharjah" and its orbiting planet HIP 79431b as "Barjeel."
On December 15, 2019, the IAU announced the results for all countries. For the UAE, the HIP 79431 star became officially known as "Sharjah" and its orbiting planet HIP 79431b as "Barjeel."
Sharjah is the Cultural
Capital of United Arab Emirates
Why "Sharjah" and "Barjeel"?
"Sharjah" as a Star:
Sharjah is the third largest and third most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah is known across the entire Arab world as the emirate of culture, thought, civilization, and architectural renaissance. It has received numerous international awards recognizing its culture, Islamic heritage, tourism, and outstanding health system.
"Barjeel" as a Planet:
Barjeel is the Arabic name for a wind tower or windcatcher. Before the advent of air conditioning in the UAE, a system of barjeel towers was a feature of traditional houses in the UAE. These towers cooled houses during the extreme heat of the summer season. The word, barjeel, relates to the ancient architectural heritage of the UAE. These structures might have one, four, or eight openings to facilitate the circulation of air.
