IAU List of Star Names
In 2016, the IAU mobilised the Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) under its Division C
(Education, Outreach, and Heritage), whose purpose was to formally
catalogue the names of stars, beginning with the brightest and
best-known. The Working Group is composed of an assortment of
astronomers from all over the world who bring different perspectives and
experience to its decisions. Further details on the establishment of
the group can be found in this press release.
Alphanumeric designations are useful for astronomers to officially identify the stars they study, but in many instances, for cases of bright stars, and stars of historical, cultural, or astrophysical interest, it can be more convenient to refer to them by a memorable name. Many such names are already in common parlance, and have been for a long time, but until the establishment of the WGSN there was no official, IAU-approved catalogue of names for the brightest stars in our sky.
https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars/
Alphanumeric designations are useful for astronomers to officially identify the stars they study, but in many instances, for cases of bright stars, and stars of historical, cultural, or astrophysical interest, it can be more convenient to refer to them by a memorable name. Many such names are already in common parlance, and have been for a long time, but until the establishment of the WGSN there was no official, IAU-approved catalogue of names for the brightest stars in our sky.
https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars/
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