lumpy darkness

Sunday, January 18, 2009

HTML entity codes for the Greek alphabet

I started out using the full Greek word in web pages (like in the multiple star lists) but wondering, in the back of my mind, how to generate the symbols for web pages. It's actually pretty easy.

Some HTMhell hand-coders leave off the semicolon; this is incorrect. Also, some do not appreciate that these entity keywords are case-sensitive. Clearly relevant here.

α		α		α		ν		ν		ν
β		β		β		ξ		ξ		ξ
γ		γ		γ		ο		ο		ο
δ		δ		δ		π		π		π
ε		ε		ε		ρ		ρ		ρ
ζ		ζ		ζ		σ **		σ		σ
η		η		η		τ		τ		τ
θ *		θ		θ		υ		υ		υ
ι		ι		ι		φ		φ		φ
κ		κ		κ		χ		χ		χ
λ		λ		λ		ψ		ψ		ψ
μ		μ		μ		ω		ω		ω

* Lower case theta (θ) also appears as such or in some texts and atlases. In particular, Tirion uses it in the SkyAtlas charts. This character (ϑ) can be produced with the code ϑ or ϑ.

** Also, lower case sigma (σ) also appears as such in some texts. But, if I understand correctly, this form is used when a word ends with sigma... This "final" character (ς) can be produced with the code ς or ς.

To complicate matters, I recently saw another variant of sigma which looks like a Latin letter c.

There is another Greek pi symbol which appears to not be used in astronomical circles. It is shown here for completeness. The symbol ϖ is produced with the code ϖ or &#982.

Α		Α		Α		Ν		Ν		Ν
Β		Β		Β		Ξ		Ξ		Ξ
Γ		Γ		Γ		Ο		Ο		Ο
Δ		Δ		Δ		Π		Π		Π
Ε		Ε		Ε		Ρ		Ρ		Ρ
Ζ		Ζ		Ζ		Σ		Σ		Σ
Η		Η		Η		Τ		Τ		Τ
Θ		Θ		Θ		Υ		Υ		Υ
Ι		Ι		Ι		Φ		Φ		Φ
Κ		Κ		Κ		Χ		Χ		Χ
Λ		Λ		Λ		Ψ		Ψ		Ψ
Μ		Μ		Μ		Ω		Ω		Ω

Another Greek symbol that may be produced in HTML is a slightly different style to the upper case Upsilon or ϒ, with a "hook," produced with the code ϒ or ϒ.

It is understood that these HTML entity codes only work in modern browsers; and explicitly not in Netscape 4.7. I apologise if they are not readable... I've tried, in the blog proper, to always show parenthetically the Greek character referred to.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011

the Greek alphabet on Windows computers

Choose the built-in Symbol font in Windows to easily produce Greek characters. Then, simply type your characters. To make the symbol on the left, type the letter listed to the right. Many are mnemonic.

α

a

ν

n

Α

A

Ν

N

β

b

ξ

x

Β

B

Ξ

X

γ

g

ο

o

Γ

G

Ο

O

δ

d

π or ϖ

p or v

Δ

D

Π

P

ε

e

ρ

r

Ε

E

Ρ

R

ζ

z

σ or ς

s or V

Ζ

Z

Σ

S

η

h

τ

t

Η

H

Τ

T

θ or ϑ

q or J

υ

u

Θ

Q

Υ

U

ι

i

φ

j or f

Ι

I

Φ

F

κ

k

χ

c

Κ

K

Χ

C

λ

l

ψ

y

Λ

L

Ψ

Y

μ

m

ω

w

Μ

M

Ω

W

Sunday, January 18, 2009

learn the Greek alphabet

If you want to practice your Greek character recognition, see some of the helpful web sites in the miscellaneous category.

links

		lumpy darkness sites:
		blog proper
		lists home
		telescopes:
		my cat
		Mom's newt
		accessories
		life lists:
		planets, moons, etc.
		constellations
		notable stars
		double stars
		Messier objects
		other deep sky objects
		eclipses
		occultations
		photo gallery
		magnitude limit
		to do
		other lists:
		Greek alphabet in HTML
		judging angular size
		atlases, books, software
		what's up for the year
		meteor showers
		with just your eyes
		assessing darkness
		observing preparation
		web site links:
		magazines
		sky conditions
		science and research
		space telescopes
		double stars sites
		retail stores
		clubs and associations
		DIY observatories
		miscellaneous