Benus

Benus is a proper noun that has appeared in several different contexts, most notably in astronomy and in historical naming traditions. In early star catalogs and sky maps, Benus was used as a traditional name attached to a bright star. Over time, as official naming conventions were standardized, many of these traditional names were supplanted by formal designations (such as Bayer or Flamsteed designations), and Benus survives mainly as a historical or cultural reference rather than an official IAU designation. Because of the variability in medieval and early modern sources, the exact star associated with the name can differ by tradition.

In astronomical practice today, Benus is generally not listed as an official IAU-recognized name for a specific star. Modern references typically identify the star by its standard catalog designation, with Benus noted in historical context rather than as a primary identifier. The term is sometimes encountered by amateur stargazers and in older atlases as a reminder of how star-naming practices have evolved.

Etymology for Benus is not definitively established in the scholarly record. It may reflect Latin or regional naming traditions from centuries past, and it occasionally appears in derivative forms in various languages. In broader cultural usage, Benus has appeared as a proper name in fiction, literature, or as a surname, illustrating how historical star names sometimes persist in contemporary culture in altered or metaphorical forms.

See also: Bennu, Venus, star naming traditions.