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Stars with proper names

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The Greek alphabet

Α α alpha
Β β beta
Γ γ gamma
Δ δ delta
Ε ε epsilon
Ζ ζ zeta
Η η eta
Θ θ theta
Ι ι iota
Κ κ kappa
Λ λ lambda
Μ μ mu
Ν ν nu
Ξ ξ xi
Ο ο omicron
Π π pi
Ρ ρ rho
Σ σ sigma
Τ τ tau
Υ υ upsilon
Φ φ phi
Χ χ chi
Ψ ψ psi
Ω ω omega

Star naming

Many stars have proper names, for example Polaris, Castor and Pollux.

A commonly used system for naming the stars was introduced by German astronomer Johann Bayer. This system makes use of Greek letters, here called Bayer letters, together with Latin genitive of the star's constellation, for example Polaris = α Ursae Minoris. The fundamental principle is to assign the letter alpha to the brightest star, beta to the second brightest and so on, but there are many exceptions. Some stars are even named after one constellation, but actually, they are situated in another constellation nearby.

There are stars that do not have a Bayer letter. Some of these, for example the star Alcor in the constellation Ursa Major, have a Flamsteed number. The genitive of the Latin name of the star's constellation is used together with this number. The star Alcor is called 80 Ursae Majoris. Flamsteed numbers were introduced by English astronomer John Flamsteed.

List of 226 stars

Andromeda

α Alpheratz

 or Sirrah

β Mirach

γ Almach

ξ Adhil

Aquarius

α Sadalmelik

β Sadalsuud

γ Sadachbia

δ Skat

ε Albali

θ Ancha

κ Situla

Aquila

α Altair

β Alshain

γ Tarazed

Aries

α Hamal

β Sheratan

γ Mesarthim

δ Botein

Auriga

α Capella

β Menkalinan

Boötes

α Arcturus

β Nekkar

γ Seginus

ε Izar

 or Pulcherrima

η Muphrid

μ Alkalurops

h Merga

Cancer

α Acubens

 or Sertan

γ Asellus Borealis

δ Asellus Australis

ζ Tegmine

Canes Venatici

α Cor Caroli

β Chara

Canis Major

α Sirius

β Mirzam

γ Muliphein

δ Wezen

ε Adhara

ζ Furud

η Aludra

Canis Minor

α Procyon

β Gomeisa

Capricornus

α Algedi

 or Giedi

β Dabih

γ Nashira

δ Deneb Algedi

Carina

α Canopus

 or Suhel

β Miaplacidus

ε Avior

ι Aspidiske

Cassiopeia

α Shedar

β Caph

δ Ruchbah

Centaurus

α Rigil Kentaurus

 or Toliman

 or Bungula

α C Proxima

β Hadar

 or Agena

γ Muhlifain

ζ Alnair

θ Menkent

Cepheus

α Alderamin

β Alfirk

γ Errai

μ "The Garnet Star"

ξ Kurhah

Cetus

α Menkar

β Diphda

 or Deneb Kaitos

ζ Baten Kaitos

ο Mira

Columba

α Phact

β Wazn

Corona Borealis

α Alphecca

 or Gemma

β Nusakan

Corvus

α Alchiba

γ Gienah

δ Algorab

Crater

α Alkes

Crux

α Acrux

β Mimosa

γ Gacrux

Cygnus

α Deneb

 or Arided

β Albireo

γ Sadr

ε Gienah

π1 Azelfafage

Delphinus

α Sualocin

β Rotanev

Draco

α Thuban

 or Adib

β Rastaban

 or Alwaid

γ Eltanin

δ Altais

ι Edasich

λ Giausar

μ Alrakis

ξ Grumium

Equuleus

α Kitalpha

Eridanus

α Achernar

β Cursa

γ Zaurak

ζ Zibal

η Azha

θ Acamar

 or Dalim

ο1 Beid

ο2 Keid

43 (or d) Theemin

Gemini

α Castor

β Pollux

γ Alhena

δ Wasat

ε Mebsuta

ζ Mekbuda

η Propus

μ Tejat

Grus

α Al Na'ir

Hercules

α Rasalgethi

β Kornephoros

 or Rutilicus

κ Marsic

λ Maasym

ω Cujam

Hydra

α Alphard

Leo

α Regulus

β Denebola

γ Algieba

δ Zosma

 or Duhr

ζ Adhafera

θ Chertan

 or Coxa

λ Alterf

μ Rasalas

ο Subra

Lepus

α Arneb

β Nihal

Libra

α Zubenelgenubi

β Zubeneschamali

Lyra

α Vega

β Sheliak

γ Sulafat

Ophiuchus

α Rasalhague

β Cebalrai

δ Yed Prior

ε Yed Posterior

η Sabik

λ Marfik

Orion

α Betelgeuse

β Rigel

γ Bellatrix

δ Mintaka

ε Alnilam

ζ Alnitak

κ Saiph

λ Meissa

 or Heka

Pavo

α Peacock

Pegasus

α Markab

β Scheat

γ Algenib

ε Enif

ζ Homam

η Matar

θ Biham

μ Sadalbari

Perseus

α Mirfak

 or Algenib

β Algol

ξ Menkib

ο Atik

Phoenix

α Ankaa

 or Nair al Zaurak

Pisces

α Alrescha

Piscis Austrinus

α Fomalhaut

Puppis

ζ Naos

ρ Tureis

Sagitta

α Sham

Sagittarius

α Rukbat

 or Alrami

β Arkab

γ Alnasl

 or Nushaba

δ Kaus Media

ε Kaus Australis

ζ Ascella

λ Kaus Borealis

σ Nunki

Scorpius

α Antares

β Acrab

 or Graffias

δ Dschubba

θ Girtab

 or Sargas

λ Shaula

σ Al Niyat

υ Lesath

Serpens

α Unukalhai

θ Alya

Taurus

α Aldebaran

β Elnath

ε Ain

η Alcyone

16 Celaeno

17 Electra

19 Taygeta

20 Maia

21 Sterope

 or Asterope

23 Merope

27 Atlas

28 Pleione

Triangulum

α Mothallah

Triangulum Australe

α Atria

Ursa Major

α Dubhe

β Merak

γ Phecda

δ Megrez

ε Alioth

ζ Mizar

η Alkaid

 or Benetnasch

ι Talitha

λ Tania Borealis

μ Tania Australis

ν Alula Borealis

ξ Alula Australis

ο Muscida

80 Alcor

Ursa Minor

α Polaris

 or Alrucaba

β Kochab

γ Pherkad

δ Yildun

Vela

γ Regor

κ Markeb

λ Suhail

Virgo

α Spica

 or Azimech

β Zavijava

γ Porrima

ε Vindemiatrix

 or Almuredin

η Zaniah

ι Syrma

See also

Notes

Sources

In other languages

Corrections

We regret the following errors in this list:

The errors are now corrected.