The Fixed Stars

Mebsuta

Epsilon Geminorum

The outstretched paw, from the Arabic al-mabsutah. It stands at about 3° Cancer (tropical).

The outstretched paw, from the older Lion of the Arabs.

In the older Arabic heavens these stars were not twins but the paws of a great celestial Lion, and Epsilon, Al Mabsutah, the outstretched paw, was set against Zeta, the drawn-in paw. In the Greek figure it falls at the knee of the mortal twin. It is a luminous supergiant dimmed by its great distance. Little planetary nature is assigned to it in the tradition.

Paired with Mekbuda, the outstretched paw against the contracted.