About this star:

A double star, 2.9 and 5.7, flushed white and pale lilac.

The usual illustration of the constellation, Canes Venatici, is of two Greyhounds held by a leash in the hand of Bootes, as he is guiding the Bears (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor) around the pole star, Polaris.

The more northern Hound is Asterion (as is the title of beta), Starry, from the little stars marking the body and because it contains the M51 Whirlpool Nebula: The southern hound; which contains this star and beta (Asterion), the two brightest stars; is Chara, "Dear"; "dear to the heart of her master".

This star marks Chara's collar, but was set apart as the distinct figure; Cor Caroli, in honor of Charles II in 1725 by the Royal Astronomer, Halley. This was done at the suggestion of the court physician, Sir Charles Scarborough, who said that it had shone with special brilliancy on the eve of the king's return to London on the 29th of May, 1660. It has occasionally been seen on maps as the centre of a Heart-shaped figure surmo Cor Caroli, a modern latin title, is the French Coeur de Charles; the Italian Cuor di Carlo; and the German Herz Carls. unted by a crown.

With Ulug Beg it was Al Kabd al Asad, the "Liver of the Lion", — here a technical term indicating the highest position of any star within the compass of a figure reckoned from the equator.

The Arabic Al Karb al Ibl, the "Camel's Burden" figured here.

The German astronomer, Bartschius, in the 17th century drew on his map of this part of the sky the River Jordan, his Jordanis and Jordanus. (Allen).

Influence of the constellation:

This constellation gives a love of hunting and a penetrating mind, making those born under it faithful, keen, clever and fond of speculation. (Robson).

Influence of the star:

Alkes has always portended eminence to those born under its influence. When rising the star indicates dedicated environmentalists whose love for rivers and streams lead them to be very protective regarding water resources. At a less intense level the native may become a landscape architect, a builder of canals, or in some other manner do business in merchandise connected with water. (Noonan).