Harry Potter Names from Astronomy

Introduction

Harry Potter is unarguably one of the biggest phenomena ever happening to us. Even after years of completing the main series, Potterheads worldwide still engage in the fandom and relive the glorious days by reading books or watching movie marathons. It's undeniable that J.K. Rowling is a masterful wordsmith, captivating an entire generation with her storytelling prowess.

Did you know that some characters in the Harry Potter series have names derived from stars in our sky? So, suppose you are an astronomy enthusiast and a Potterhead. In that case, you can set yourself a challenge of finding these stars in the night sky.

In this article, we will discover how J.K. Rowling ingeniously named characters after stars, connecting the enchanting tales to the wonders of the night sky. Explore the cosmic origins of Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Sirius Black, and more.

Draco Malfoy

Harry's rival, Draco, evokes mixed feelings of both hatred and love. His name originates from the eighth most prominent constellation in the sky, which has the same name.

Derived from the Latin Draco, it literally means dragon or a huge serpent. This constellation has 14 stars, all spread in a pattern similar to a snake's. This is definitely in line with his house at Hogwarts—Slytherin. His character's traits mirror the cunning and ambitious nature associated with snakes, making his celestial name all the more fitting.

Moreover, even his son, Scorpius Malfoy, has his name derived from one of the many constellations in the zodiac. As the name suggests, this constellation looks like a scorpion and requires a fine eye to spot. 

Scorpius, often depicted in mythology as an intimidating creature, has the traits of resilience and intensity, showing the complexities of the younger Malfoy's character. 

Luna Lovegood

She is definitely a character that we all love. As a Ravenclaw, she was a part of Dumbledore's Army while charming the audience with her curious personality. Luna derives from the word Lunar, which is related to the Moon. Now, her milk-white complexion makes a lot more sense when we know about the meaning of her name, doesn't it?

Remus Lupin

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is where we first came across Remus, but he hasn't left our hearts since. As we all know, he is a werewolf (a human who can transform into a wolf or a wolf-like creature), which also fits perfectly with the related constellation. Rowling took quite a clever twist on this one since, in Latin, Lupus means wolf, which is also the constellation's name. Needless to say, the Lupus constellation looks like a wolf, comprising nine main stars in total. 

Centaurs

These mythological creatures are half horses and half humans. We all remember that scene from the Order of the Phoenix where the centaurs carry Professor Umbridge into the woods. Centaurs, as it turns out, also inhabit the sky, positioned right next to Lupus in the Centaurus constellation. Since this is one of the largest constellations, it can be pretty tricky to spot it completely.

Bellatrix Lestrange

One of the lead antagonists in the series, Bellatrix shares her name with the star, which is part of the Orion constellation. Bellatrix is one of the brightest stars in Orion and is often called the "Amazon Star." The name "Bellatrix" itself means "female warrior" or "warrioress," fitting for both the character's personality and the star's association with the mighty hunter Orion in mythology.

Sirius Black

Sirius Black, another central character from the Harry Potter series, has the same name as the star Sirius, also known as the "Dog Star." In the wizarding world, Sirius Black can transform into a black dog. This aligns with the star's association with Canis Major's constellation, representing the Big Dog.

This constellation is easy to spot with the naked eye since it is the brightest star in the sky. It shows us light in the darkest of times, just like Sirius showed Harry. Coincidence?

Merope Gaunt

For those who aren't the full-fledged Potterheads, Merope Gaunt is the mother of Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. She has the name of one of the stars in the Taurus constellation, also a part of the Pleiades cluster, symbolizing her familial ties and the darkness surrounding her life.

Regulus Black

Regulus Black shares his name with the star Regulus, also known as Alpha Leonis, in the constellation Leo. In the series, he is Sirius Black's younger brother. Regulus is known for his involvement with the Death Eaters and later for his redemption when he rebels against Lord Voldemort. The association with the star Regulus reflects the character's bravery, leadership, and eventual redemption.

Conclusion

As you might have noticed at this point, there are so many unbelievable coincidences regarding the relationship between different stars and constellations and the characters of Harry Potter. Finding and watching the stars related to the book and movie characters would be a unique and exciting journey for anyone who used to be in love with this series.

To conclude our journey, here is what we have learned about our beloved characters so far:

1. Draco Malfoy: Named after the constellation Draco, symbolizing his Slytherin house traits and serpentine nature.
2. Luna Lovegood: Named after the Moon, which reflects her ethereal and dreamy personality.
3. Remus Lupin: He is named after the Lupus constellation, which means "wolf" in Latin, echoing his werewolf condition.
4. Centaurs: Associated with the Centaurus constellation, representing their mythical half-human, half-horse forms.
5. Bellatrix Lestrange: Named after Bellatrix, a bright star in the Orion constellation, fitting her warrior-like persona.
6. Sirius Black: Named after Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, known as the "Dog Star," aligning with his animagus form and loyalty to Harry.
7. Merope Gaunt: Named after a star in the Taurus constellation, symbolizing the darkness surrounding her life and her connection to Voldemort.
8. Regulus Black: Named after Regulus, a star in the Leo constellation, reflecting his bravery, leadership, and eventual redemption.

References

1. Allen, R.H., Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Dover, 1963.
2. NASA - "The Astronomy of Harry Potter"
3. Book Analysis - "Astronomy"
4. University of New Hampshire - "Real Astronomy in the Harry Potter Universe"
5. Wikipedia - "List of Stars by Constellations"