Science fiction writer Frank Herbert chose Arrakis as the name of the primary planet of Canopus (α Carinae) in his Dune series of novels, aware that the word "Arrakis" is the transliteration into English of the Arabic words for "the Dancer" (al-Raqis). References Binary stars Draco (constellation) Draconis, Mu Draconis, 21 F-type main-sequence stars Alrakis 083608 6369 70 Durchmusterung objects 154905 6 9584