History of the star: A binary star, 5 and 5.1, brilliant white and pale white marking the nose or tongue of the dragon, Draco. Another Arabic name for Arrakis is Ar-Raqis (1), "The dancer" (perhaps to the neighboring lute-player, the star beta, Alwaid). Al Rakis, Arrakis and Errakis, were other pronunciations. But some think the word means the "Trotting Camel", one of the group of those animals located in this spot. It was also called Al Rafad, "the Camel Pasturing Freely".

Assemani mentioned mu as Al Caab, the "Little Shield or Salver", but gave no reason for this, and its inappropriateness renders the claim very doubtful.

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

The astrological influences of the constellation: "According to Ptolemy the bright stars are like Saturn and Mars. Draco gives an artistic and emotional but somber nature, a penetrating and analytical mind, much travel and many friends, but danger of robbery and accidental poisoning. It gives craft, ingenuity, and valor. The Ancients said that when a comet was here, poison was scattered over the world. By the Kabalists it is associated with the Hebrew letter Mem and the 13^th Tarot Trump, Death". (Robson).