About this star:

The Arabic name for this star marking the body of Grus, the Crane, is Alnair is An-Nayyir), "The bright one", (i.e. of the Fish's Tail), an obvious reference to its former association with Piscis Austrinus in Arabic astronomy. (Allen).


Cranes are large, beautiful, graceful, long-lived, migratory, wading birds. They are credited with great diligence, intelligence and vigilance; they are reported to post sentries while they sleep. They are said to pair for life, and hence a symbol of devoted love. Male and female take equal responsibility in the rearing of their chicks. Cranes are noted for their elaborate courtship dances; humans on stilts copied the dance. They spend a long time preening their feathers and paint themselves with mud to camouflage themselves. Greek letters of the alphabet came from myths about cranes. The crane was used as a symbol of the astronomer by the Ancient Egyptians.

Influence of the constellation:

A retiring, active, proud, watchful, kind, idealistic and devoted nature, with a liking for astronomy. (Robson).