Zubenelgenubi, the Southern Claw

Zubenelgenubi (the Southern Claw) is the fictional ship in Jim McGrath’s shanty of the same name. The ship sails out of Newport on January 18. And the name of the ship (not to be confused with Zubeneschamali, the Northern Claw) comes from the Arabic language, coined for a particular star system’s former role in the constellation Scorpius. Today, the star system Zubenelgenubi is more commonly designated as a component of Libra. It has guided many navigators under summer skies, rising high into the sky and marking due south around 10 PM in early June.

Another constellation important in navigation is Crux, the Southern Cross, though it is only visible from near the Southern hemisphere. The prominence of this constellation is celebrated in the song Under the Southern Cross.