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International Astronomical Union WGSN

Author: Susanne M Hoffmann

IAU-Working Group on Star Names

Protected: July 2026

June 19, 2026

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WGSN News

June 10, 2026

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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Teaching Star Names

May 25, 2026

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

May 20, 2026

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Protected: May 2026

April 19, 2026

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WGSN Release Logo

Releases in 2026

April 18, 2026

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

Protected: April Meeting

April 1, 2026

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Protected: Meeting Info – March 2026

March 8, 2026

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IAU issued an Announcement about WGSN

February 15, 2026

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

January 1, 2026

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

December 18, 2025

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News in 2025

December 1, 2025

Newly adopted in 2025:

Protected: Apamvatsa

October 19, 2025

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Blaze Star

September 22, 2025

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

August 12, 2025

How to distribute the names and preserve both?

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Australian Prime Minister about “Ginan”

July 29, 2025

22 July News

WGSN Release Logo

Ten new star names

June 20, 2025

WGSN adopts names

Kaffalmusalsala, Udkadua, Rasalnaqa, Alfarasalkamil

May 22, 2025

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 Release Logo

Four Chinese star names applied

April 6, 2025

WGSN adopts names

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Letter from a reader

February 3, 2025

Some nice words 🙂

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Place

IAU headquarter: Paris, Europe


Chair of the Working Group: Berlin, Europe

Thanks

Webhosting supported by Stiftung FNJE (Berlin, Europe)

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All Skies Encyclopaedia (ASE) supported by USTC Hefei & Macquarie University Sydney

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WGSN has monthly online meetings to discuss the naming of the visible stars. These meetings are not public and we do not accept name suggestions.

June 18, 2026

  • WGSN

    June 18, 2026  4:00 am - 5:00 am

Our work is pro bono and on a volontary basis.

© 2026 The Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).