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International Astronomical Union WGSN

Author: Susanne M Hoffmann

IAU-Working Group on Star Names

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Teaching Star Names

With kind permission herewith we share a letter from two Italian primary school teachers: Dear friends at WGSN I am pleased to inform you that over the past few weeks, with the help of a colleague of mine, I have carried out for a group of about twenty elementary school students from the I.C. Via Carotenuto…
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Protected: June 2026

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Protected: May 2026

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Releases in 2026

A list of new star names released, a new work mode, and some technical issues fixed this year so far.

Protected: April Meeting

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Protected: Meeting Info – March 2026

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IAU issued an Announcement about WGSN

On February 12, 2026, the IAU issued an announcement on the recent activities of WGSN. During the past two years, with a new work mode WGSN adopted 59 new star names: IAU Selects New Star Names to Reflect Global Astronomical Culture “These names span the entire celestial sphere, with a deliberate cultural emphasis on Asia,…
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Names Released 2025

A few highlights of 2025: we released exactly 40 new star names and created info cards for them which were posted on our social media channels. The above lists show a random selection. of names with the images of them produced for the public. The distribution of the names we adopted from January to November…
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Protected: Discussion Dec 2025

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News in 2025

Newly adopted in 2025:

Protected: Apamvatsa

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Blaze Star

A long discussion in WGSN was caused by the question whether the IAU should adopt names that are used in modern astrophysics. In case of the eruptive star T CrB, for instance, it isn’t necessary because the designator (variable star nomenclature with capital letter and constellation abbreviation) is already short and practical for use in…
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Shatabisha and Hydor

How to distribute the names and preserve both?

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Ten new star names

WGSN adopts names

Kaffalmusalsala, Udkadua, Rasalnaqa, Alfarasalkamil

As-Sufi already in the 10th century knew three constellations in the area: the Beduine constellation of the She-Camel, The Horse (which may or may not have Babylonian or Indian roots), and the (hand of) Greek Andromeda. What he did not know is that the northernmost star of the area (lambda Andromedae) was named “the heel…
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Four Chinese star names applied

WGSN adopts names

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Letter from a reader

Some nice words 🙂

New Star Names 2024

WGSN adopts names

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Babylonian Cultural Astronomy

In the recent issue of JAHH, a paper argues that the original Babylonian constellations (pre-MUL.APIN) were used and invented to serve as a cultural calendar. A whole lecture on how this is embedded in the Greco-Babylonian culture (1.5 hours) has been delivered in March by our group member.