Themes
FAQ3: Our IAU-Catalog of Star Names (CSN) is a living document; it is continuously updated after regular (roughly monthly) group meetings.
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FAQ1: Sorry, we currently don’t accept name proposals; only naming campaigns do. Modern invented star names are given to (faint) host stars of exoplanets. For bright stars, we collect and apply historical names from all over the world according to scientific criteria.
FAQ2: In research papers, please kindly use only the names from the IAU-CSN. For aspects of education and heritage preservation, we are developing name-resolvers and an encyclopaedia to keep track of all cultural names per star.
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Star Names
Some star names are historically developed, other take from indigenous cultures and some are totally artificial.
Constellations
even if you think you know them, you still can learn something new here.
Exoplanet Names
The IAU-Catalog of Exoplanet Names stems from the
NameExoWorlds Campaigns
Latest News
Four Chinese star names applied
In February and March, the WGSN applied four new names of traditional Chinese constellations to stars. ι Cen “Kulou” (库楼) means arsenal and storied building. It is a super-constellation in[…]
Letter from a reader
Dear friends of the IAU – WGSN, I am Paolo Palma, an elementary school teacher and visual astronomer for over 25 years. With this email I wanted to thank you[…]
New Star Names 2024
Press Release The International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) has approved 19 new proper names for stars in 2024, marking another significant step in the organization’s[…]
IAU
at home on planet Earth
… seeking to share knowledge with all humans on this planet.
Some photographs: astronomy on planet Earth
Our world is a beautiful place – we need to take care of it!
Moon Through Telescope
Lunar eclipse, observed at Hildesheim (Europe)
Rainbow above Sahara
Observed in Mauretania (Africa)
Short before Transit of Mercury
northwest Sahara (Africa)
Inka Dark Constellations
by Jessica Gullberg