1. Perhaps Alamak, the last of the major stars in Andromeda, was specially noted because its day number (according to my method of counting based on a cycle of 360 days) is 365¼ + 73 = 438¼:
Alamak marks the left foot of Andromeda, Mirach is in her lap, and Sirrah (Alpheratz) once was joined to the Square of Pegasus, but later transferred to her hair:
... Alpheratz, Alpherat, and Sirrah are from the Arabians' Al Surrat al Faras, the Horse's Navel, as this star formerly was associated with Pegasus, whence it was transferred to the Woman's hair; and some one has strangely called it Umbilicus Andromedae. But in all late Arabian astronomy taken from Ptolemy it was described as Al Rās al Mar'ah al Musalsalah, the Head of the Woman in Chains ... If Sirrah is - which my investigation seems to indicate - at the beginning (the head) of the 'land' (of summer north of the equator, the 'horse'), then such an origin might well be compared to a navel. Maybe this 'navel' is located 64 (= 473 - 409) days before autumn equinox south of the equator.
There is half a month from the 'navel' (Sirrah) to Mirach in her lap and a further half month to her left foot (Alamak): 02h 01m - 00h 06m = 121m - 6m = 115m = 115 / 4 = 28¾ days Then, from Alamak to the end of the Stream (Acamar) there is another fortnight:
Alamak is at the beginning of the 3rd hour and Acamar at its end. |
