“Popular” names for stars and planets

“Popular” names for stars and planets
When scientific names lacked appeal...
Struggling to find names for some 2000 confirmed extrasolar planets and apparently realising that
the scientific names assigned to most (e.g. OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb) are far from being inspired, the
International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced the results of a competition it had organised for
more agreable ones. IAU monopolizes the right to name celestial objects.
Various official and public institutions including amateur astronomy clubs, universities, schools,
planetariums from 45 countries were asked to contribute suggestions and then public was asked to
vote on 274 of the suggested names.
In the end, 14 stars and 31 planets acquired new names with the votes of 573.000 participants from
182 countries.
The new names, to be used by IAU together with the scientific names of these stars and planets,
mostly cover deities or heroes in mythologies of diverse cultures, renowned scientists, fictional
characters, ancient cities and words picked from defunct languages.
Besides a plaqueI “commemorating their contribution to astronomy”, IAU will give the winners the
chance to name a minor celestial body. , başarılı adları önermiş olanlara, katkıları için bir teşekkür
plaketinin yanısıra, küçük bir gökcisminin adını koyma ayrıcalığı verecek.
OBJECT
FORMER NAME
STAR
PLANET
STAR
PLANET
STAR
PLANET
STAR
PLANET
PLANET
STAR
PLANET
PLANET
14 Andromedae
14 Andromedae b
18 Delphini
18 Delphini b
42 Draconis
42 Draconis b
47 Ursae Majoris
47 Ursae Majoris b
47 Ursae Majoris c
51 Pegasi
51 Pegasi b
55 Cancri
55 Cancri b
55 Cancri c
55 Cancri d
55 Cancri e
55 Cancri f
Veritate
Kanada
Spe
Musica
Japonya
Arion
Fafnir
ABD
Orbitar
Chalawan
Taphao Thong Tayland
Taphao Kaew
Helvetios
İsviçre
Dimidium
Copernicus
Galileo
Brahe
Hollanda
Lippershey
Janssen
Harriot
PLANET
Ain b (epsilon Tauri b)
Amateru
Japonya
Edasich b (iota Draconis b)
Hypatia
İspanya
epsilon Eridani
epsilon Eridani b
Errai b (gamma Cephei b)
Ran
AEgir
Tadmor
PLANET
STAR
PLANET
PLANET
NEW NAME
COUNTRY OF PROPOSER
ABD
Suriye
PLANET Fomalhaut b (alpha Piscis Austrini b) Dagon
STAR
HD 104985
Tonatiuh
PLANET HD 104985 b
Meztli
STAR
HD 149026
Ogma
PLANET HD 149026 b
Smertrios
STAR HD 81688
Intercrus
PLANET HD 81688 b
Arkas
mu Arae
Cervantes
mu Arae b
Quijote
STAR
mu Arae c
Dulcinea
PLANET
mu Arae d
Rocinante
mu Arae e
Sancho
PLANET Pollux b (beta Geminorum b)
Thestias
PSR 1257+12
Lich
STAR PSR 1257+12 b
Draugr
PLANET PSR 1257+12 c
Poltergeist
PSR 1257+12 d
Phobetor
upsilon Andromedae
Titawin
STAR upsilon Andromedae b
Saffar
PLANET upsilon Andromedae c
Samh
upsilon Andromedae d
Majriti
STAR xi Aquilae
Libertas
PLANET xi Aquilae b
Fortitudo
ABD
Meksika
Fransa
Japonya
İspanya
Avustralya
İtalya
Fas
Japonya
Raşit Gürdilek
REFERENCES:
“Aah, that’s a heavenly name for a planet”, ScienceOnline, 15 DECEMBER 2015
“Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released”, IAU, 15 DECEMBER 2015,
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1514/