The Fixed Stars

Albireo

Beta Cygni

A bookish name born of mistranslation, not originally Arabic at all. It stands at about 2° Aquarius (tropical).

The swan's beak, which a small telescope opens into gold and sapphire.

Albireo marks the swan's head at the foot of the Northern Cross, and it hides the loveliest secret in the constellation, the smallest telescope splits it into a golden star and a blue one side by side, the sky's favorite demonstration of star color. Robson gives it the nature of Venus and Mercury, with a gentle reading, beauty, neatness, a lovable disposition, and kindness that persists in hard times. The name itself is a scribal accident, a phrase from a Latin translation mistaken for an Arabic star name.

Allen recounts the etymology in full; the name has no real meaning, which is part of its charm.