IAU Working Group on Star Names
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) in May 2016 to catalog and standardize proper names for stars for the international astronomical community.[1] It operates under the auspices of Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage.[2]
Terms of reference
The terms of reference for the WGSN[3] for the period 2016–2018 were approved by the IAU Executive Committee at its meeting on 6 May 2016.[4] In summary, these are to:
- establish IAU guidelines for the proposal and adoption of names for stars,
- carry out a search of the literature for candidate names,
- adopt new unique names for stars of scientific and historical value,
- assemble and disseminate an official IAU star name catalog (IAU-SNC). (Note: The current catalog is headed "IAU Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN)".[5]
While initially the WGSN would focus on incorporating 'past' names from history and culture, in future it would be responsible for defining the rules and enabling the process by which new names can be proposed by members of the international astronomical community.
Naming guidelines
The WGSN adopted preliminary guidelines for unique star names.[3] In summary, these are:
- Names preserving world heritage are strongly encouraged; common and cultural names preferred over new,
- Names should normally be 4–16 characters in length; short names preferred over long,
- Names should be pronounceable in some language and be non-offensive,
- Names should not be too similar to an existing name of a star, planet, planetary satellite, or minor planet.
- Names of individuals are prohibited for bright stars (except for rare historical cases),
- Contrived names are discouraged (except for rare historical cases),
- Names of events principally known for political or military activities; of a principally commercial nature; of pet animals and acronyms are prohibited.
The WGSN explicitly recognized the names of exoplanets and their host stars approved by the Executive Committee Working Group Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites, including the names of stars adopted during the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign.[6]
The WGSN noted that in some cases, traditional names were historically attributed to multiple stars, however it has clarified which star or component. Some stars listed by HR number, Bayer or Flamsteed designation themselves may be multiple. Where a component letter (from e.g. Washington Double Star Catalog) is not explicitly listed, the WGSN says that the name should be understood to be attributed to the brightest component by visual brightness.[7]
The WGSN decided to focus during the rest of 2016 on standardizing common names and spellings for the brightest few hundred stars with published names, and on compiling cultural names, with names for faint stars to be discussed in the future (it regarded 'bright stars' as those with designations in the Bright Star Catalogue and any physical companions; 'faint stars' as any other Galactic stars, substellar objects, and stellar remnants).[3]
Adopted names
The first two batches of names were approved by the WGSN on 30 June 2016 and 20 July 2016. They were listed in a table included in its first bulletin dated July 2016.[3] The list included the names of stars reviewed and adopted during the 2015 NameExoWorlds campaign, which included four traditional star names: Ain, Edasich, Errai and Fomalhaut.[3][5][8] There are 125 stars on the list. Further batches of names were approved on 21 August 2016, 12 September 2016, 5 October 2016 and 6 November 2016. These were listed in a table included in the WGSN's second bulletin dated November 2016.[7] There are 102 stars on this list. All are included on the current IAU Catalog of Star Names, last updated on 7 November 2016.[5]
The first list includes two stars given names of individuals during the NameExoWorlds process: Cervantes (honoring the writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra) and Copernicus (honoring the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus) for the stars Mu Arae and 55 Cancri A, respectively.[9] The WGSN approved the historical name Cor Caroli (Latin for 'heart of Charles') for the star Alpha Canum Venaticorum, so named in honour of King Charles I of England by Sir Charles Scarborough, his physician.[10][11][12]
See also
- Astronomical naming conventions
- Stellar designation
- List of proper names of stars
- Stars named after people
External links
References
- ↑ "Division C WG Star Names". Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ↑ "Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage". Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1" (PDF). Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- 1 2 3 "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ↑ "NameExoWorlds". Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- 1 2 "Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 2" (PDF). Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ↑ Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released, International Astronomical Union, 15 December 2015.
- ↑ NameExoWorlds The Approved Names
- ↑ R.H. Allen, Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning.
- ↑ Robert Burnham, Jr. Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Volume 1, p. 359.
- ↑ Ian Ridpath: "Star Tales", Canes Venatici. See also Deborah J. Warner, The Sky Explored: Celestial Cartography 1500–1800.