How to Pronounce It

FAS Astronomers Blog, Volume 32, Number 6.

Astronomical names are not always the easiest to pronounce. Many are derived from Latin, Greek, or another more exotic language. Star names, in particular, often come from Arabic and from a time when astronomy was kept alive in the Middle East during the dark ages in Europe.

There are several sources available, but for constellations, the International Astronomical Union does have its semi-official suggestions. Wikipedia can also be useful in determining, maybe not the officially correct pronunciation but, one that is accepted by many. I’ve found a few others as well (see sources below).

Therefore, here is my attempt to provide unofficial pronunciations for several objects. Hopefully, most are correct, however, I suspect that a few are not.

It is also important to write the name of these objects with the correct capitalization. The International Astronomical Union has a few guidelines to help us. They also have guidelines on how various objects are named.

Here are some pronunciation notes for the constellations (mostly from The Constellations (IAU), space.com, and Wikipedia). 

Aquila can be either uh-QUILL-uh or ACK-will-uh. I use ah-QUILL-ah. space.com has ack-WILL-lah.

Boötes is Bo-OH-tees and not Boot-ees.

Capricornus is CAP-rih-CORN-us and not CAP-rih-CORN.

Cassiopeia is CASS-ee-uh-PEE-uh, and not CASS-ee-OH-pee-ah.

There are three options for Cepheus: SEE-fyoos, SEE-fee-us, SEF-ee-us. I use SEE-fee-us. Space.com agrees.

Delphinus can be del-FIN-us or del-FINE-us, del. I use del-FIN-us, which is similar to space.com’s del-FYE-nus.

Gemini can be JEM-uh-nye or JEM-uh-nee. The second is sometimes used for the Gemini space program. I use the first for the constellation. 

Libra can be LEE-bruh or LYE-bruh. I use the former, which is very close to space.com’s LEE-bra.

Ophiuchus can be OFF-ee-YOO-kus or OAF-ee-YOO-kus. I’ve been using OAF-ee-YOU-kus, which is closer to what space.com uses. However, they have it as Oaf-ih-YOU-kus, with an ih rather than ee.

Orion can be oh-RYE-un or uh-RYE-un. I think most use the former.

Perseus can be PER-see-us or PER-syoos. I think most use the first.

Sagitta is suh-JIT-uh. I’ve also heard it pronounced as SAH-ji-tah, which is more like it is spelled.

Scorpius is SCOR-pee-us and not SOR-pee-oh. 

Taurus is TOR-us and not TAR-us. I say it wrong all the time. 

Below are the pronunciations for a few planets, dwarf planets, and moons

Uranus

  • Many of us learned to say you-RAIN-us.
  • Most astronomers today call it YUR-ah-nus. Hint from Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society (https://www.planetary.org/articles/1806) – Turn to the person sitting next to you and call them a Nuss. You’re a Nuss. 
  • It is NOT Your-anus or Urine-us – please!

Pluto & Charon (Surface Features). Macula is Latin for spot.

  • Belton Regio (formerly Cthulhu Macula or Cthulhu Regio) – large dark area near Pluto’s equator. Cthulhu is pronounced k-thu-lu.
  • Mordor Macula – large reddish area at Charon’s north pole. 

Charon (Pluto’s moon)

  • Care-on (Kare-on) is technically correct. Kharon is the ferryboat pilot from Greek Mythology, who took the souls of the dead over the river Styx to the underworld. Many Europeans use this. 
  • Cher-on (like Sharon) is in reference to James Christy’s wife Charlene. Many people in the U.S. use this. 
  • Char-on (like Charlene) is, I think, how James Christy says it. Much closer to Charlene.  

For Jupiter’s moon, Io, most people say I O. I think E O is technically correct – Few people say it that way. 

Saturn’s moon Enceladus is pronounced as en-SELL-ah-dus, and not something like en-CHILL-lot-us.

The Kuiper Belt is usually pronounced as it like it looks – Kyp-er. Some say it like Qwip-er. 

Eris is Air-is or Err-is, and not Ear-is. Eris has a small moon Dysnomia (dis-nomia)

Makemake is named after the Polynesian god of creation for the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island. The pronunciation below is adapted from Wikipedia.

  • MAH-kay MAH-kay / ma:keI ma:keI 
  • MAH-keh MAH-keh / ma:ki ma:ki – anglicized pronunciation.
  • I think I say Mach-A Mach-A, like in Mach 1 (the speed of sound). 
  • It is not Make Make.

Makemake has one moon. This is a hard one. It is MK2 (M K two).

Haumea is named after the goddess of childbirth from Hawaiian mythology. The pronunciation below is adapted from Wikipedia.

  • how-MAY-ah / hau’mei.a – Hawaiian English pronunciation. I think Mike Brown uses this.
  • HAH-oo-MAY-a / ha:u:’mei.a – This might be used by Mike Brown’s students.
  • How-ME-ah. I’ve heard this one as well – from The Wanderers by NASA/GSFC.

Haumea has two moons. Hi’iaka is named after the patron goddess of the Big Island of Hawaii and one of the daughters of Haumea. Namaka is named after the Hawaiian goddess of the sea and another of the daughters of Haumea. The pronunciations below are adapted from Wikipedia.

  • Hi’iaka is pronounced as Hi e ah kay ah /hiːʔiːˈɑːkə/ / (h as in hi, i as in fleece, i as in happy, a as in father, k as in kind, a as in about).
  • Namaka is Na Ma kay ah /nɑːˈmɑːkə/ or nah-MAH-ka.

The pronunciations for a few stars are below.

Alberio, the head of Cygnus the Swan, is usually pronounced as al-BEER-ee-oh.

Betelgeuse is usually pronounced as Beetle-Juice, although it may be technically Bet-al-guise or Bet-al-geese.

Dubhe, in the bowl of the Big Dipper, is pronounced several ways: Due-be, Due-bay, or DOOB-huh.

Saiph, Orion’s lower right foot, is pronounced Safe.

Vega, according to The American Astronomical Society (per Sky & Telescope), is officially pronounced as VEE-guh, however most people say it as VEY-guh.

Selected Sources and Further Reading

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