Legend (icons in tables and maps) Sagittarius Name ASE Star Language Meaning Kemenu 💚 rho1 Sgr Egyptian (Stars of) Kenmu, 17th decan in Egyptian astral science, heliacal rise in month Peret, represented by a small group of stars around rho1 Sgr (Belmonte & Lull 2023) Pabilsang 💚 τ Sgr Sumerian the god Pabilsang was depicted…
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In the past few weeks, WGSN members have been very active in public presence. On that occasion, we had created some viewgraphs on the activity of the working group in the past decade – by chance also realising that we forgot celebrating the tenth birthday. ASROC – Zhubei, Taiwan Cheung Sze-leung work on astronomy outreach…
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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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A list of new star names released, a new work mode, and some technical issues fixed this year so far.
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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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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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Newly adopted in 2025:
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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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How to distribute the names and preserve both?
22 July News
WGSN adopts names
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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WGSN adopts names
