This second-magnitude star, whose name means 'the solitary one,' is in an area with few bright stars and thus seems to stand out; as can be inferred from their naming this as 'Star' constellation, Chinese astronomers have known of this star since very ancient times, and indeed Alphard is one of the first stars to have been discovered by the Chinese.
「孤独な者」を意味する名をもつこの2等星は、明るい星の少ない中にあって目立つ星であり、「星」という宿名からもわかるように、中国の天文家にも、最も古くから知られてきた星の一つであった。