When they ran out of these, they started using the capital Latin letters. One more interesting fact: when the Greek letters were used up, the astronomers utilized small Latin letters. For instance, each of the seven stars in the Big Dipper got its name according to position, starting at the front of the bowl and out along the handle. However, in some cases, this arrangement wasn’t followed. The brightest stars of each constellation were called Alpha, the second brightest star was named Beta, and so on. Greek Letters and Star NamesĪlthough many stars received proper names (and we must admit that the ancients were very creative when it came to thinking up a name of stars and constellations), in 1603 Bayer published a star catalogue in which the bright stars were represented by small letters of the Greek alphabet. The ancients typically designated stars by their positions in the figures. Most brightest stars were named back in early times, being of Arabic, Greek and Latin origin. In fact, several, since each civilization assigned it a different one at a given time. However, few people know that even each one of the stars that make up a constellation has also received a name of its own. People generally have an idea that a bright star or a constellation can have its name. Along with the development of mathematics and the principles of physics and chemistry, ancient civilizations came to understand phenomena such as lunar phases, the trajectory of comets and the presence of the stars constellations. Popular Names of StarsĪstronomy has evolved since ancient times, but the titles of stars in space remain. Here are the stars names that are most popular. They are commonly used in song lyrics and even for naming pets. There are too many star names to count, but each of us can hear a name that rings a bell in our mind, either because of its luminescence, its importance for navigation, or for its zodiac meaning. This means that there are constellations, stars, comets, and phenomena still unknown to humankind, invisible even for the most powerful telescopes. Just as the universe expands, the list of stars is continually growing.įor example, a few years ago in the middle of the constellation of Sagittarius a star that was called Nova, suddenly reached its maximum brightness and progressively became more visible to the human eye. Identifying and learning constellations and stars in space is a skill that very few can reach. Names of Stars, a Seemingly Infinite List Go on reading to find out more about stars names and meanings. Want to know more about names of the stars in the sky? If yes, you are in the right place. Nowadays, even astronomy aficionados continue the legacy of naming stars in space. On top of all there was the infinite universe, a changing scenario full of signals and symbols that fascinated all the great minds and civilizations.Įnthralled with their beauty, the Mayans, Babylonians, Egyptians, Iranians, and Greeks were the first to develop celestial study systems and resorted to creating titles of stars to give an order to their advances. At the dawn of time, there was man along with nature’s mysteries. Stars and constellations sound truly amazing: Altair, Merak, Polaris, Dubhe… But where do they come from? Let’s reflect on it for a moment.
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