Albali

Fixed star:  ALBALI
Constellation:  Epsilon (ε) Aquarius
Longitude 1900:  10AQU20 Longitude 2000:  11AQU43
Declination 1900:  -09.52′ Declination 2000:  -09.30′
Right ascension:  20h 47m Latitude:  +08.04′
Spectral class:  A1 Magnitude:  3.8

The history of the star: Albali

from p.53 of Star Names, Richard Hinckley Allen, 1889.
[A scanned copy can be viewed on this webpage

AlbaliEpsilon (ε) Aquarius, Albali, is a 4th magnitude star in the left hand of the Water Bearer.

Al Bali was the brightest star of the 21st manzil (Arabic Moon Mansion), Al Sad al Bula‘, the Good Fortune of the Swallower, which included mu (μ) and nu (ν); these last also known as Al Bulaan in the dual. The 13th century Persian astronomical writer Al Kazwini said that this strange title came from the fact that the two outside stars were more open than alpha (α) Giedi Prima and beta (β) Dahib of Capricornus, {p.54} so that they seemed to swallow, or absorb, the light of the other! (this star is positioned close to the Capricornus stars mentioned).

The corresponding sieu (Chinese Moon Mansion), Mo, Mu, Niu, Nu, or Woo Neu, a Woman, anciently written Nok, was composed of these stars with the addition of another, unidentified, epsilon (ε, this star Albali) being the determinant; and the same three were the Euphratean lunar asterism Munaχ, the Goat-fish, and the Coptic people of Egypt Upeuritos, the Discoverer.

The 17th century German astronomer Bayer mentioned for it Mantellum and Mantile, marking the Napkin or Towel held in the youth’s hand (Water Pourer’s); but in some early drawings this was shown as a Bunch of Grain Stalks

Dutch scholar Grotius (1583-1645) had Ancha and Pyxis, but neither appropriate; while in our day the former is applied only to theta (θ Ancha), and the latter is never seen as a stellar title except in La Caille’s Pyxis Nautica in Argo.

Eastward from epsilon (ε), near nu (ν), is the Saturn Nebula, N.G.C. (New Galaxy Catalog) 7009, that the largest telescopes show somewhat like the planet.

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

Close to the helio planetary South Node of Neptune; 10AQU40  in 1900 – 11AQU46 in 2000.

The Lunar Mansions

Al Bali was the brightest star of the 21st manzil (Arabic Moon Mansion), Al Sad al Bula‘, the Good Fortune of the Swallower, which included mu (μ) and nu ν Aquarius; these last also known as Al Bulaan in the dual.

Influences of the 21st Arabic Moon Mansion Al Sa’d al Bula: Causes divorces, liberty of captives and heals the sick.

With Moon transiting here: marry, sow, take medicine and lead an army. [Robson, p.74.]

The astrological influences of the constellation Aquarius

Legend: Aquarius is said to represent Ganymedes, son of Callirhoe, the most beautiful of mortals, who was carried to heaven by an eagle to act as cupbearer to Jupiter. According to other accounts, however, it is Deucalion, son of Prometheus, who was translated to heaven in memory of the mighty deluge from which only he and Pyrrha were saved. [Robson, p.28.]

Influences: Ptolemy makes the following observations: “The stars in the shoulders of Aquarius operate like Saturn and Mercury; those in the left hand and in the face do the same: those in the thighs have an influence more consonant with that of Mercury, and in a less degree with that of Saturn: those in the stream of water have power similar to that of Saturn, and moderately to that of Jupiter.” By the Kabalists Aquarius is associated with the Hebrew letter Nun and the 14th Tarot Trump “Temperance,” over which virtue the constellation appears to have some rule. The beauty of Ganymedes and his flight through the air also link it to the ideas of personal charm and aviation with which it is certainly connected. [Robson, p.28-29.]

The astrological influences of the constellation Aquarius given by Manilius:

“The youthful Waterman, who from upturned pot pours forth his stream, likewise bestows skills which have affinity with himself: how to divine springs under the ground and conduct them above, to transform the flow of water so as to spray the very stars, to mock the sea with man-made shores at the bidding of luxury, to construct different types of artificial lakes and rivers,” and to support aloft for domestic use streams that come from afar. Beneath this sign there dwell a thousand crafts regulated by water. Why, water will even set in motion the face of heaven and the starry habitations, and will cause the skies to move in a novel rotation. Never will the sons of Aquarius grow tired of the works which come in the wake of water and follow springs. They who issue from this sign are a gentle sort and a lovable breed, and no meanness of heart is theirs: they are prone to suffer losses: and of riches they have neither need nor surfeit. Even thus doth the urn’s stream flow” [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.243.]

The astrological influences of the star Albali

This star, Albali, along with Ancha, are indicative of danger and can cause persecution and even death, but are also said to give good fortune. [Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.40.]

References:

Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923].