Astronomy can truly inspire multitude with incredible exposure of the majestic creation . But when it comes to naming thing , more often than not we are stuck with things resemble sound numbers . There are too many genius out there , so numbers exploit much better than name calling .
Some star , though , are more memorable . So the International Astronomical Union ( IAU ) has started theWorking Group on Star Names(WGSN ) , with the precise scope of formalizing the common epithet of a few hundred stars .
Some of the stars officially name today are already live by their common names like Proxima Centauri ( technically Alpha Centauri C ) , Polaris ( Alpha Ursa Minor ) , and Vega ( Alpha Lyrae ) , while for others the WGSN found historical nicknames from many different cultures .
Some may wander their eyes think this is an use in futility , but it ’s important to make prescribed even names that have long been established in pop - civilisation , as it helps maintain the astronomical heritage of the human backwash . There ’s also another reason : the IAU has startednaming exoplanets , so why not stars ?
“ Since the IAU is already adopting names for exoplanets and their host sensation , it has been seen as necessary to catalogue the names for stars in rough-cut habit from the yesteryear , and to clarify which ones will be official from now on , ” said Eric Mamajek , chair and organiser of the WGSN , in astatement .
So the bright star in Pisces will just be known as Fomalhaut rather than its other 30 name that have been used over the days . Even star like Sirius or Betelgeuse were lacking an official international spelling until very recently . Thecatalogwill also check that that rough-cut names are not used for multiple astronomical object .
The first 227 O.K. name can be seen in theofficial WGSN catalog . The grouping is also planning to delineate the rules , standard , and cognitive operation to name stars , exoplanets , and other object . The naming is also not expect to be exclusive to professional astronomers . Just like exoplanet naming , phallus of the ecumenical world will be involve in giving a bit more flair to the alphamerical appointment of ace .
