IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)
@iau-wgsn.bsky.social
Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Maintained by @susanne-m-hoffmann.bsky.social @msfa94.bsky.social
⭐️ Cassiopeia, Star Names
WGSN has standardized the traditional names in Cassiopeia:
Segin (uncertain origin),
Tiansi (ancient Chinese),
Ruchbah (“the knee,” Arabic),
Caph (“the hand,” Indigenous Arab),
Schedar (“the breast,” Arabic–Greek).
A constellation rich in global heritage.
WGSN has standardized the traditional names in Cassiopeia:
Segin (uncertain origin),
Tiansi (ancient Chinese),
Ruchbah (“the knee,” Arabic),
Caph (“the hand,” Indigenous Arab),
Schedar (“the breast,” Arabic–Greek).
A constellation rich in global heritage.
December 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
⭐️ Cassiopeia, Star Names
WGSN has standardized the traditional names in Cassiopeia:
Segin (uncertain origin),
Tiansi (ancient Chinese),
Ruchbah (“the knee,” Arabic),
Caph (“the hand,” Indigenous Arab),
Schedar (“the breast,” Arabic–Greek).
A constellation rich in global heritage.
WGSN has standardized the traditional names in Cassiopeia:
Segin (uncertain origin),
Tiansi (ancient Chinese),
Ruchbah (“the knee,” Arabic),
Caph (“the hand,” Indigenous Arab),
Schedar (“the breast,” Arabic–Greek).
A constellation rich in global heritage.
🔵 Heng – ν Cen
Bright blue-white star in #Centaurus, mag 3.38.
🌡️ 22,400 K | 11.8 M☉ | 8.2 R☉ | 474 ly
Name Héng (衡), an ancient Chinese term likely meaning “balance bar,” from the 2nd-century BCE super-constellation Kulou.
A pulsating B-type subgiant.
#IAUStarNames #ChineseAstronomy
Bright blue-white star in #Centaurus, mag 3.38.
🌡️ 22,400 K | 11.8 M☉ | 8.2 R☉ | 474 ly
Name Héng (衡), an ancient Chinese term likely meaning “balance bar,” from the 2nd-century BCE super-constellation Kulou.
A pulsating B-type subgiant.
#IAUStarNames #ChineseAstronomy
December 4, 2025 at 7:28 AM
🔵 Heng – ν Cen
Bright blue-white star in #Centaurus, mag 3.38.
🌡️ 22,400 K | 11.8 M☉ | 8.2 R☉ | 474 ly
Name Héng (衡), an ancient Chinese term likely meaning “balance bar,” from the 2nd-century BCE super-constellation Kulou.
A pulsating B-type subgiant.
#IAUStarNames #ChineseAstronomy
Bright blue-white star in #Centaurus, mag 3.38.
🌡️ 22,400 K | 11.8 M☉ | 8.2 R☉ | 474 ly
Name Héng (衡), an ancient Chinese term likely meaning “balance bar,” from the 2nd-century BCE super-constellation Kulou.
A pulsating B-type subgiant.
#IAUStarNames #ChineseAstronomy
🟠 Shimu – ζ And
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
December 3, 2025 at 12:24 PM
🟠 Shimu – ζ And
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
🟠 Shimu – ζ And
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
November 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
🟠 Shimu – ζ And
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
Reddish K-giant in #Andromeda, ~mag 4.0.
🌡️ 4900 K | 4.8 M☉ | 85 R☉ | 181 ly
Name Shǐmù (“Eye of the Pig”), from the ancient Chinese asterism Tiān Shǐ, with roots tracing back 5,500 years.
A spotted, magnetically active binary; primary mapped via Doppler imaging.
#Shimu #IAUStarNames
🟡 Quadrans – 44 Boo A
Yellow sun-like star in #Boötes, mag 4.83.
🌡️ 5877 K | 1.04 M☉ | 1.55 R☉ | 41 ly
Name Quadrans (“quadrant”) from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, near the radiant of the Quadrantids.
Hosts a 23 K debris disk; part of a triple system.
#Quadrans #IAUStarNames #44Boötis
Yellow sun-like star in #Boötes, mag 4.83.
🌡️ 5877 K | 1.04 M☉ | 1.55 R☉ | 41 ly
Name Quadrans (“quadrant”) from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, near the radiant of the Quadrantids.
Hosts a 23 K debris disk; part of a triple system.
#Quadrans #IAUStarNames #44Boötis
November 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM
🟡 Quadrans – 44 Boo A
Yellow sun-like star in #Boötes, mag 4.83.
🌡️ 5877 K | 1.04 M☉ | 1.55 R☉ | 41 ly
Name Quadrans (“quadrant”) from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, near the radiant of the Quadrantids.
Hosts a 23 K debris disk; part of a triple system.
#Quadrans #IAUStarNames #44Boötis
Yellow sun-like star in #Boötes, mag 4.83.
🌡️ 5877 K | 1.04 M☉ | 1.55 R☉ | 41 ly
Name Quadrans (“quadrant”) from the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, near the radiant of the Quadrantids.
Hosts a 23 K debris disk; part of a triple system.
#Quadrans #IAUStarNames #44Boötis
⚪️ Kulou – ι Cen
Bright white star in #Centaurus, mag 2.73.
🌡️ 9160 K | 2.36 M☉ | 2.1 R☉ | 58 ly
Name Kùlóu (“Arsenal”), from a 2nd-century BCE Chinese super-constellation spanning Centaurus & Lupus.
Shows strong IR excess from a warm debris disk.
#Kulou #IAUStarNames
Bright white star in #Centaurus, mag 2.73.
🌡️ 9160 K | 2.36 M☉ | 2.1 R☉ | 58 ly
Name Kùlóu (“Arsenal”), from a 2nd-century BCE Chinese super-constellation spanning Centaurus & Lupus.
Shows strong IR excess from a warm debris disk.
#Kulou #IAUStarNames
November 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
⚪️ Kulou – ι Cen
Bright white star in #Centaurus, mag 2.73.
🌡️ 9160 K | 2.36 M☉ | 2.1 R☉ | 58 ly
Name Kùlóu (“Arsenal”), from a 2nd-century BCE Chinese super-constellation spanning Centaurus & Lupus.
Shows strong IR excess from a warm debris disk.
#Kulou #IAUStarNames
Bright white star in #Centaurus, mag 2.73.
🌡️ 9160 K | 2.36 M☉ | 2.1 R☉ | 58 ly
Name Kùlóu (“Arsenal”), from a 2nd-century BCE Chinese super-constellation spanning Centaurus & Lupus.
Shows strong IR excess from a warm debris disk.
#Kulou #IAUStarNames
🔵 Tiansi – γ Cas
Eruptive Be star in #Cassiopeia, mag 2.4.
🌡️ 26,500 K | 18.7 M☉ | 10.9 R☉ | 549 ly
Name Tiān Sì (“Heavenly Quadriga”), a 2,000-year-old Chinese asterism.
A high-mass X-ray system; X-rays likely from the Be star + disk.
#Tiansi #IAUStarNames
Eruptive Be star in #Cassiopeia, mag 2.4.
🌡️ 26,500 K | 18.7 M☉ | 10.9 R☉ | 549 ly
Name Tiān Sì (“Heavenly Quadriga”), a 2,000-year-old Chinese asterism.
A high-mass X-ray system; X-rays likely from the Be star + disk.
#Tiansi #IAUStarNames
November 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
🔵 Tiansi – γ Cas
Eruptive Be star in #Cassiopeia, mag 2.4.
🌡️ 26,500 K | 18.7 M☉ | 10.9 R☉ | 549 ly
Name Tiān Sì (“Heavenly Quadriga”), a 2,000-year-old Chinese asterism.
A high-mass X-ray system; X-rays likely from the Be star + disk.
#Tiansi #IAUStarNames
Eruptive Be star in #Cassiopeia, mag 2.4.
🌡️ 26,500 K | 18.7 M☉ | 10.9 R☉ | 549 ly
Name Tiān Sì (“Heavenly Quadriga”), a 2,000-year-old Chinese asterism.
A high-mass X-ray system; X-rays likely from the Be star + disk.
#Tiansi #IAUStarNames
🔵 Cexing – κ Cas
Blue supergiant in #Cassiopeia, mag 4.16.
🌡️ 24,600 K | 38 M☉ | 43 R☉ | 4,126 ly | BC0.7 Ia
Name from Chinese Cè Xīng (“The Whip Star”), part of the charioteer Wangliang.
A fast runaway star with a huge bow shock.
#Cexing #IAUStarNames
Blue supergiant in #Cassiopeia, mag 4.16.
🌡️ 24,600 K | 38 M☉ | 43 R☉ | 4,126 ly | BC0.7 Ia
Name from Chinese Cè Xīng (“The Whip Star”), part of the charioteer Wangliang.
A fast runaway star with a huge bow shock.
#Cexing #IAUStarNames
November 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
🔵 Cexing – κ Cas
Blue supergiant in #Cassiopeia, mag 4.16.
🌡️ 24,600 K | 38 M☉ | 43 R☉ | 4,126 ly | BC0.7 Ia
Name from Chinese Cè Xīng (“The Whip Star”), part of the charioteer Wangliang.
A fast runaway star with a huge bow shock.
#Cexing #IAUStarNames
Blue supergiant in #Cassiopeia, mag 4.16.
🌡️ 24,600 K | 38 M☉ | 43 R☉ | 4,126 ly | BC0.7 Ia
Name from Chinese Cè Xīng (“The Whip Star”), part of the charioteer Wangliang.
A fast runaway star with a huge bow shock.
#Cexing #IAUStarNames
🟠 Bagu – δ Aur
Orange giant, mag 3.72 in #Auriga.
🌡️ 4,786 K | 1.1 M☉ | 21 R☉ | 140 ly | K0 IIIb
Name from Chinese Bā Gǔ (“Eight Kinds of Crops”), an ancient Han-era asterism.
Brightest star of Bagu & namesake of the Delta Aurigids.
#Bagu #IAUStarNames
Orange giant, mag 3.72 in #Auriga.
🌡️ 4,786 K | 1.1 M☉ | 21 R☉ | 140 ly | K0 IIIb
Name from Chinese Bā Gǔ (“Eight Kinds of Crops”), an ancient Han-era asterism.
Brightest star of Bagu & namesake of the Delta Aurigids.
#Bagu #IAUStarNames
November 19, 2025 at 3:31 AM
🟠 Bagu – δ Aur
Orange giant, mag 3.72 in #Auriga.
🌡️ 4,786 K | 1.1 M☉ | 21 R☉ | 140 ly | K0 IIIb
Name from Chinese Bā Gǔ (“Eight Kinds of Crops”), an ancient Han-era asterism.
Brightest star of Bagu & namesake of the Delta Aurigids.
#Bagu #IAUStarNames
Orange giant, mag 3.72 in #Auriga.
🌡️ 4,786 K | 1.1 M☉ | 21 R☉ | 140 ly | K0 IIIb
Name from Chinese Bā Gǔ (“Eight Kinds of Crops”), an ancient Han-era asterism.
Brightest star of Bagu & namesake of the Delta Aurigids.
#Bagu #IAUStarNames
⚪️ Alaybasan (β Tri) — mag 3.0 white A-type binary in #Triangulum.
🌡️ 7,680 K | 3.25 M☉ | 3.4 R☉ | 124 ly | A5 III
Name from Arabic al-Aybasān, “the Two Bone-Joints.”
A 31.4-day spectroscopic binary as tight as Mercury’s orbit.
#Alaybasan #IAUStarNames #BinaryStars
🌡️ 7,680 K | 3.25 M☉ | 3.4 R☉ | 124 ly | A5 III
Name from Arabic al-Aybasān, “the Two Bone-Joints.”
A 31.4-day spectroscopic binary as tight as Mercury’s orbit.
#Alaybasan #IAUStarNames #BinaryStars
November 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
⚪️ Alaybasan (β Tri) — mag 3.0 white A-type binary in #Triangulum.
🌡️ 7,680 K | 3.25 M☉ | 3.4 R☉ | 124 ly | A5 III
Name from Arabic al-Aybasān, “the Two Bone-Joints.”
A 31.4-day spectroscopic binary as tight as Mercury’s orbit.
#Alaybasan #IAUStarNames #BinaryStars
🌡️ 7,680 K | 3.25 M☉ | 3.4 R☉ | 124 ly | A5 III
Name from Arabic al-Aybasān, “the Two Bone-Joints.”
A 31.4-day spectroscopic binary as tight as Mercury’s orbit.
#Alaybasan #IAUStarNames #BinaryStars
⚪️ Apdu (γ Tri) — mag 4.0 white, fast-rotating star in #Triangulum.
🌡️ 9,440 K | 2.5 M☉ | 2.25 R☉ | 117 ly | A1Vnn
From ancient Egyptian Apdu (𓅫pd), “the Bird,” now official IAU name.
#Apdu #GammaTrianguli #IAUStarNames #StarEtymology #Triangulum
🌡️ 9,440 K | 2.5 M☉ | 2.25 R☉ | 117 ly | A1Vnn
From ancient Egyptian Apdu (𓅫pd), “the Bird,” now official IAU name.
#Apdu #GammaTrianguli #IAUStarNames #StarEtymology #Triangulum
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
⚪️ Apdu (γ Tri) — mag 4.0 white, fast-rotating star in #Triangulum.
🌡️ 9,440 K | 2.5 M☉ | 2.25 R☉ | 117 ly | A1Vnn
From ancient Egyptian Apdu (𓅫pd), “the Bird,” now official IAU name.
#Apdu #GammaTrianguli #IAUStarNames #StarEtymology #Triangulum
🌡️ 9,440 K | 2.5 M☉ | 2.25 R☉ | 117 ly | A1Vnn
From ancient Egyptian Apdu (𓅫pd), “the Bird,” now official IAU name.
#Apdu #GammaTrianguli #IAUStarNames #StarEtymology #Triangulum
🟠 Adhil (ξ And) — mag 4.86 orange giant in #Andromeda.
🌡️ 4,840 K | 2.5 M☉ | 10 R☉ | 195 ly | K0 IIIb
From Arabic al-dhayl, “the hem (of a robe),” marking the lower hem of Andromeda’s dress.
#Adhil #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #RedGiant
🌡️ 4,840 K | 2.5 M☉ | 10 R☉ | 195 ly | K0 IIIb
From Arabic al-dhayl, “the hem (of a robe),” marking the lower hem of Andromeda’s dress.
#Adhil #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #RedGiant
November 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
🟠 Adhil (ξ And) — mag 4.86 orange giant in #Andromeda.
🌡️ 4,840 K | 2.5 M☉ | 10 R☉ | 195 ly | K0 IIIb
From Arabic al-dhayl, “the hem (of a robe),” marking the lower hem of Andromeda’s dress.
#Adhil #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #RedGiant
🌡️ 4,840 K | 2.5 M☉ | 10 R☉ | 195 ly | K0 IIIb
From Arabic al-dhayl, “the hem (of a robe),” marking the lower hem of Andromeda’s dress.
#Adhil #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #RedGiant
🟠 Ainalrami (ν¹ Sgr) — mag 4.84 orange supergiant in #Sagittarius, marking the Archer’s Eye.
🌡️ 3,460 K | 6.5 M☉ | 101 R☉ | 1,770 ly | K1 II
From Arabic ʿAyn ar-Rāmī, “the Eye of the Archer.”
#Ainalrami #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #Supergiant
🌡️ 3,460 K | 6.5 M☉ | 101 R☉ | 1,770 ly | K1 II
From Arabic ʿAyn ar-Rāmī, “the Eye of the Archer.”
#Ainalrami #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #Supergiant
November 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
🟠 Ainalrami (ν¹ Sgr) — mag 4.84 orange supergiant in #Sagittarius, marking the Archer’s Eye.
🌡️ 3,460 K | 6.5 M☉ | 101 R☉ | 1,770 ly | K1 II
From Arabic ʿAyn ar-Rāmī, “the Eye of the Archer.”
#Ainalrami #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #Supergiant
🌡️ 3,460 K | 6.5 M☉ | 101 R☉ | 1,770 ly | K1 II
From Arabic ʿAyn ar-Rāmī, “the Eye of the Archer.”
#Ainalrami #IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #Supergiant
🔴 Aldebaran (α Tauri) — mag 0.86 orange giant in #Taurus, the fiery eye of the Bull.
🌡️ 3,900 K | 1.16 M☉ | 45 R☉ | 65 ly | K5+III
From Arabic al-dabarān, “the Follower,” trailing the Pleiades.
Once Sun-like, now a red giant.
#Aldebaran #ArabicAstronomy #IAUStarNames #RedGiant
🌡️ 3,900 K | 1.16 M☉ | 45 R☉ | 65 ly | K5+III
From Arabic al-dabarān, “the Follower,” trailing the Pleiades.
Once Sun-like, now a red giant.
#Aldebaran #ArabicAstronomy #IAUStarNames #RedGiant
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🔴 Aldebaran (α Tauri) — mag 0.86 orange giant in #Taurus, the fiery eye of the Bull.
🌡️ 3,900 K | 1.16 M☉ | 45 R☉ | 65 ly | K5+III
From Arabic al-dabarān, “the Follower,” trailing the Pleiades.
Once Sun-like, now a red giant.
#Aldebaran #ArabicAstronomy #IAUStarNames #RedGiant
🌡️ 3,900 K | 1.16 M☉ | 45 R☉ | 65 ly | K5+III
From Arabic al-dabarān, “the Follower,” trailing the Pleiades.
Once Sun-like, now a red giant.
#Aldebaran #ArabicAstronomy #IAUStarNames #RedGiant
🔵 Aladfar (η Lyrae) – blue-white star in #Lyra, mag 4.4, ~1,040 ly.
🌡️ 17,360 K | 10 M☉ | 4.3 R☉ | B6 type
Name from Arabic al-aẓfār, “the talons (of the eagle).”
Part of the ancient Arabian Eagle asterism.
#IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #BlueStar #Lyra
🌡️ 17,360 K | 10 M☉ | 4.3 R☉ | B6 type
Name from Arabic al-aẓfār, “the talons (of the eagle).”
Part of the ancient Arabian Eagle asterism.
#IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #BlueStar #Lyra
November 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🔵 Aladfar (η Lyrae) – blue-white star in #Lyra, mag 4.4, ~1,040 ly.
🌡️ 17,360 K | 10 M☉ | 4.3 R☉ | B6 type
Name from Arabic al-aẓfār, “the talons (of the eagle).”
Part of the ancient Arabian Eagle asterism.
#IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #BlueStar #Lyra
🌡️ 17,360 K | 10 M☉ | 4.3 R☉ | B6 type
Name from Arabic al-aẓfār, “the talons (of the eagle).”
Part of the ancient Arabian Eagle asterism.
#IAUStarNames #ArabicAstronomy #BlueStar #Lyra
🟡 Ain (ε Tau) – yellow giant in #Taurus, mag 3.5, ~154 ly away.
🌡️ 4,880 K | 2.45 M☉ | 12 R☉
Hosts giant planet Amateru (ε Tau b), a hot super-Jupiter (~7 M♃) orbiting every 586 d.
Name “Ain” = Arabic ʿAyn al-Thawr, “Bull’s Eye.”
#Ain #Amateru #IAUStarNames #Exoplanet #Taurus
🌡️ 4,880 K | 2.45 M☉ | 12 R☉
Hosts giant planet Amateru (ε Tau b), a hot super-Jupiter (~7 M♃) orbiting every 586 d.
Name “Ain” = Arabic ʿAyn al-Thawr, “Bull’s Eye.”
#Ain #Amateru #IAUStarNames #Exoplanet #Taurus
November 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
🟡 Ain (ε Tau) – yellow giant in #Taurus, mag 3.5, ~154 ly away.
🌡️ 4,880 K | 2.45 M☉ | 12 R☉
Hosts giant planet Amateru (ε Tau b), a hot super-Jupiter (~7 M♃) orbiting every 586 d.
Name “Ain” = Arabic ʿAyn al-Thawr, “Bull’s Eye.”
#Ain #Amateru #IAUStarNames #Exoplanet #Taurus
🌡️ 4,880 K | 2.45 M☉ | 12 R☉
Hosts giant planet Amateru (ε Tau b), a hot super-Jupiter (~7 M♃) orbiting every 586 d.
Name “Ain” = Arabic ʿAyn al-Thawr, “Bull’s Eye.”
#Ain #Amateru #IAUStarNames #Exoplanet #Taurus
We thank Giuseppe Fusco Marano from Naples (Napoli), Italy, for this great idea. Currently only available in Italian, we still think that the educational value comes predominantly from the pictures. "I appreciate this work very much and send 'mille grazie' to Italy", Susanne M Hoffmann says.
October 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM
We thank Giuseppe Fusco Marano from Naples (Napoli), Italy, for this great idea. Currently only available in Italian, we still think that the educational value comes predominantly from the pictures. "I appreciate this work very much and send 'mille grazie' to Italy", Susanne M Hoffmann says.
⚪️ Shēngōng (神宫) – HIP 83100
A white giant star in Scorpius, once known in Chinese uranography as the Divine Palace, part of the Tail of the Azure Dragon.
Its soft Milky Way glow was seen as a sacred hall among the stars.
IAU-Adopted(2025).
#Shengong #ChineseAstronomy #WGSN #CulturalAstronomy
A white giant star in Scorpius, once known in Chinese uranography as the Divine Palace, part of the Tail of the Azure Dragon.
Its soft Milky Way glow was seen as a sacred hall among the stars.
IAU-Adopted(2025).
#Shengong #ChineseAstronomy #WGSN #CulturalAstronomy
October 22, 2025 at 4:12 PM
⚪️ Shēngōng (神宫) – HIP 83100
A white giant star in Scorpius, once known in Chinese uranography as the Divine Palace, part of the Tail of the Azure Dragon.
Its soft Milky Way glow was seen as a sacred hall among the stars.
IAU-Adopted(2025).
#Shengong #ChineseAstronomy #WGSN #CulturalAstronomy
A white giant star in Scorpius, once known in Chinese uranography as the Divine Palace, part of the Tail of the Azure Dragon.
Its soft Milky Way glow was seen as a sacred hall among the stars.
IAU-Adopted(2025).
#Shengong #ChineseAstronomy #WGSN #CulturalAstronomy
🎃 Apāmvatsa (74 Vir) – a gentle red giant in Virgo (mag 4.69).
IAU releases the ancient Sanskrit name “Apāmvatsa,” meaning “calf of the waters,” from Indian sky tradition — just in time for Deepavali’s lights and Halloween’s pumpkins.
🌡️ 3,500 K | 400 ly | M2.5 III
#Apamvatsa #IAUStarNames
IAU releases the ancient Sanskrit name “Apāmvatsa,” meaning “calf of the waters,” from Indian sky tradition — just in time for Deepavali’s lights and Halloween’s pumpkins.
🌡️ 3,500 K | 400 ly | M2.5 III
#Apamvatsa #IAUStarNames
October 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
🎃 Apāmvatsa (74 Vir) – a gentle red giant in Virgo (mag 4.69).
IAU releases the ancient Sanskrit name “Apāmvatsa,” meaning “calf of the waters,” from Indian sky tradition — just in time for Deepavali’s lights and Halloween’s pumpkins.
🌡️ 3,500 K | 400 ly | M2.5 III
#Apamvatsa #IAUStarNames
IAU releases the ancient Sanskrit name “Apāmvatsa,” meaning “calf of the waters,” from Indian sky tradition — just in time for Deepavali’s lights and Halloween’s pumpkins.
🌡️ 3,500 K | 400 ly | M2.5 III
#Apamvatsa #IAUStarNames
🔴 Juan Antonio Belmonte, member of #WGSN, presented “Astronomy and World Heritage: the Iberian Paradigm” at AHME-2 (Yerevan, 6–10 Oct 2025).
He showed how ancient Iberian sites — from Antequera Dolmens to Talayotic Menorca — reveal humanity’s timeless bond with the sky.
#IAU #StarNames
He showed how ancient Iberian sites — from Antequera Dolmens to Talayotic Menorca — reveal humanity’s timeless bond with the sky.
#IAU #StarNames
October 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
🔴 Juan Antonio Belmonte, member of #WGSN, presented “Astronomy and World Heritage: the Iberian Paradigm” at AHME-2 (Yerevan, 6–10 Oct 2025).
He showed how ancient Iberian sites — from Antequera Dolmens to Talayotic Menorca — reveal humanity’s timeless bond with the sky.
#IAU #StarNames
He showed how ancient Iberian sites — from Antequera Dolmens to Talayotic Menorca — reveal humanity’s timeless bond with the sky.
#IAU #StarNames
🔴On 4th October, the chair of WGSN participated in the 24 Hours Live event at Akashi Planetarium (Japan), part of 100 Hours of Astronomy, @susanne-m-hoffmann.bsky.social explained how stars are officially named by the IAU followed by a public Q&A hosted by IAU-OAO.
#IAU #WGSN #Astronomy
#IAU #WGSN #Astronomy
October 16, 2025 at 6:57 AM
🔴On 4th October, the chair of WGSN participated in the 24 Hours Live event at Akashi Planetarium (Japan), part of 100 Hours of Astronomy, @susanne-m-hoffmann.bsky.social explained how stars are officially named by the IAU followed by a public Q&A hosted by IAU-OAO.
#IAU #WGSN #Astronomy
#IAU #WGSN #Astronomy
🟠 Siwarhā (Betelgeuse B)
Faint companion of #Betelgeuse in Orion, mag ~8.2. Predicted long ago, revealed by speckle imaging in 2020 & 2024.
🌡️ ~7,400 K | ~1.6 M☉ | ~1.5 R☉ | 548 ly
🔬 Likely F-type
Name “Siwarhā” = “her bracelet,” from Arabic lore of al-Jawzāʼ.
#Siwarha
Faint companion of #Betelgeuse in Orion, mag ~8.2. Predicted long ago, revealed by speckle imaging in 2020 & 2024.
🌡️ ~7,400 K | ~1.6 M☉ | ~1.5 R☉ | 548 ly
🔬 Likely F-type
Name “Siwarhā” = “her bracelet,” from Arabic lore of al-Jawzāʼ.
#Siwarha
October 3, 2025 at 5:10 AM
🟠 Siwarhā (Betelgeuse B)
Faint companion of #Betelgeuse in Orion, mag ~8.2. Predicted long ago, revealed by speckle imaging in 2020 & 2024.
🌡️ ~7,400 K | ~1.6 M☉ | ~1.5 R☉ | 548 ly
🔬 Likely F-type
Name “Siwarhā” = “her bracelet,” from Arabic lore of al-Jawzāʼ.
#Siwarha
Faint companion of #Betelgeuse in Orion, mag ~8.2. Predicted long ago, revealed by speckle imaging in 2020 & 2024.
🌡️ ~7,400 K | ~1.6 M☉ | ~1.5 R☉ | 548 ly
🔬 Likely F-type
Name “Siwarhā” = “her bracelet,” from Arabic lore of al-Jawzāʼ.
#Siwarha
🔵 Hydor (2 Ceti, HIP 301)
A blue-white subgiant (mag 4.48) in Cetus and 3rd-brightest member of the Psc–Eri stellar stream (~4,700 stars).
🌡️ 11,419 K | 2.68 M☉ | 2.75 R☉ | 272 ly
🔬 B9 IVn
Greek name ὕδωρ “Water,” once misplaced in Aquarius, restored by IAU in 2019.
#Hydor #Cetus
A blue-white subgiant (mag 4.48) in Cetus and 3rd-brightest member of the Psc–Eri stellar stream (~4,700 stars).
🌡️ 11,419 K | 2.68 M☉ | 2.75 R☉ | 272 ly
🔬 B9 IVn
Greek name ὕδωρ “Water,” once misplaced in Aquarius, restored by IAU in 2019.
#Hydor #Cetus
September 25, 2025 at 6:17 AM
🔥 Blaze Star (T Coronae Borealis, HIP 78322)
A recurrent nova in the Northern Crown, normally mag ~10 but erupting every ~80 yrs to naked-eye brightness (mag 2).
🌡️ 3,561 K | ~0.93 M☉ | ~63 R☉ | ~2,990 ly
💫 Symbiotic binary: red giant + white dwarf.
Historic eruptions in 1866 & 1946.
#BlazeStar #Nova
A recurrent nova in the Northern Crown, normally mag ~10 but erupting every ~80 yrs to naked-eye brightness (mag 2).
🌡️ 3,561 K | ~0.93 M☉ | ~63 R☉ | ~2,990 ly
💫 Symbiotic binary: red giant + white dwarf.
Historic eruptions in 1866 & 1946.
#BlazeStar #Nova
September 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
🔥 Blaze Star (T Coronae Borealis, HIP 78322)
A recurrent nova in the Northern Crown, normally mag ~10 but erupting every ~80 yrs to naked-eye brightness (mag 2).
🌡️ 3,561 K | ~0.93 M☉ | ~63 R☉ | ~2,990 ly
💫 Symbiotic binary: red giant + white dwarf.
Historic eruptions in 1866 & 1946.
#BlazeStar #Nova
A recurrent nova in the Northern Crown, normally mag ~10 but erupting every ~80 yrs to naked-eye brightness (mag 2).
🌡️ 3,561 K | ~0.93 M☉ | ~63 R☉ | ~2,990 ly
💫 Symbiotic binary: red giant + white dwarf.
Historic eruptions in 1866 & 1946.
#BlazeStar #Nova
🔴 Shatabhisha (λ Aquarii, HIP 112961)
A red giant glowing at mag 3.8 in Aquarius, ~391 ly away.
🌡️ 3,702 K | 2.96 M☉ | 100 R☉ | M2.5III
📜 Sanskrit “Shatabhisha” (शतभिषज्) = “hundred physicians,” a Vedic name >3,000 yrs old, later reimagined as hundred stars.
💫 Companion star detected.
✅ Adopted by IAU.
A red giant glowing at mag 3.8 in Aquarius, ~391 ly away.
🌡️ 3,702 K | 2.96 M☉ | 100 R☉ | M2.5III
📜 Sanskrit “Shatabhisha” (शतभिषज्) = “hundred physicians,” a Vedic name >3,000 yrs old, later reimagined as hundred stars.
💫 Companion star detected.
✅ Adopted by IAU.
September 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
🔴 Shatabhisha (λ Aquarii, HIP 112961)
A red giant glowing at mag 3.8 in Aquarius, ~391 ly away.
🌡️ 3,702 K | 2.96 M☉ | 100 R☉ | M2.5III
📜 Sanskrit “Shatabhisha” (शतभिषज्) = “hundred physicians,” a Vedic name >3,000 yrs old, later reimagined as hundred stars.
💫 Companion star detected.
✅ Adopted by IAU.
A red giant glowing at mag 3.8 in Aquarius, ~391 ly away.
🌡️ 3,702 K | 2.96 M☉ | 100 R☉ | M2.5III
📜 Sanskrit “Shatabhisha” (शतभिषज्) = “hundred physicians,” a Vedic name >3,000 yrs old, later reimagined as hundred stars.
💫 Companion star detected.
✅ Adopted by IAU.