# Does every star visible with the naked eye have an accepted name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661 "2015-10-14T20:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/1 "2015-10-14T20:52:35Z")
As in accepted by the International Astronomical Union? I realize that most of the names are completely boring. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/2 "2015-10-14T21:30:00Z")
No. They all have a label or catalog number, but many easily visible stars do not have a name. Gamma Cassiopeiae, for instance. > **[Gamma Cassiopeiae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Cassiopeiae)** > > Gamma Cassiopeiae, Latinized from γ Cassiopeiae, is a bright star at the center of the distinctive "W" asterism in the northern circumpolar constellation of Cassiopeia. Although it is a fairly bright star with an apparent visual magnitude that varies from 1.6 to 3.0, it has no traditional Arabic or Latin name. It sometimes goes by the informal name Navi. > Gamma Cassiopeiae is a Be star, a variable star, and a multiple star system. Based upon parallax measurements made by the Hipparcos satellite, ... ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/3 "2015-10-14T21:35:11Z")
Except that this star is sometimes called Tsih, it’s chinese name, or Navi, after Gus Grissom. (read the link). A better example might be Epsilon Persei, a star that I can;t find any name for. [http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/epsper.html](http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/epsper.html) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/4 "2015-10-14T22:33:13Z")
For $14.95, you can name a star yourself … ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/5 "2015-10-14T22:36:35Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > For $14.95, you can name a star yourself … I’d rather just burn my money. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/6 "2015-10-14T23:15:17Z")
And then there are some stars whose names are themselves little more than designations. The brightest star in the Southern Cross is named Acrux, for instance, which is just short for “alpha Crucis”, or “brightest star in the Cross”. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/7 "2015-10-14T23:26:43Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > For $14.95, you can name a star yourself … How much does it cost to name a galaxy? PG 1302-102 will soon be completely destroyed: the two giant black holes in its core are on the verge of colliding catastrophically. It would be a shame for this great galaxy to disappear with no name but “PG 1302-102.” Big Boy? Fred? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/8 "2015-10-14T23:47:38Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I’d rather just burn my money. It makes a nicer gift than some piece of crap on Black Friday. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/9 "2015-10-15T00:28:33Z")
I think it amazing that anyone would be gullible enough to think that the actual authority to name a star belongs to some guy named Rocky on the radio who promises that the name will be recorded and store in book form in the US Copyright Office… ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/10 "2015-10-15T00:54:15Z")
Send me just $11.49 and not only do you get to name the star, but you get to own the entire star and all its planets, if any, as well! I’ll send you a [fully legal quitclaim deed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quitclaim_deed). _Huge_ discount if you choose to buy an entire galaxy. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/11 "2015-10-15T03:11:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And then there are some stars whose names are themselves little more than designations. The brightest star in the Southern Cross is named Acrux, for instance, which is just short for “alpha Crucis”, or “brightest star in the Cross”. Or our close neighbor, Proxima (literally “nearest” or “next”). And while around there, almost nobody calls Rigil Kent anything but Alpha Centauri. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/12 "2015-10-15T03:38:19Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > It makes a nicer gift than some piece of crap on Black Friday. You must get really crappy Christmas presents. Perhaps you’re on the naughty list. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/13 "2015-10-15T03:41:24Z")
Proxima isn’t naked-eye visible, though. It’s tough to pick out even with a telescope. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/14 "2015-10-15T04:35:41Z")
The fun fact about visible stars is their number. It’s a great way to demonstrate how bad we are at estimating large numbers. In fact, it’s not uncommon in my experience for people to simply refuse to believe it. Most people guess “millions.” [How many stars can you see on a clear, moonless night?](http://earthsky.org/space/how-many-stars-could-you-see-on-a-clear-moonless-night) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/15 "2015-10-15T11:29:36Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > How much does it cost to name a galaxy? PG 1302-102 will soon be completely destroyed: the two giant black holes in its core are on the verge of colliding catastrophically. It would be a shame for this great galaxy to disappear with no name but “PG 1302-102.” > > Big Boy? Fred? I propose **septimus Prime**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/16 "2015-10-15T11:30:54Z")
> [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > The fun fact about visible stars is their number. It’s a great way to demonstrate how bad we are at estimating large numbers. In fact, it’s not uncommon in my experience for people to simply refuse to believe it. Most people guess “millions.” > > [How many stars can you see on a clear, moonless night?](http://earthsky.org/space/how-many-stars-could-you-see-on-a-clear-moonless-night) Depends a bit on how you want to define what you see of the Mily Way doesn’t it? Those are all stars even if your eye lacks the resolving power to separate them. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/17 "2015-10-15T12:48:19Z")
Obligatory \*Buffy \*quote: _[Drusilla](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484460/)_: I’m naming all the stars. _[Spike](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551346/)_: You can’t see the stars, love. That’s the ceiling. Also it’s day. _[Drusilla](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484460/)_: I can see them. But I’ve named them all the same name, and there’s terrible confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/18 "2015-10-15T14:05:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Depends a bit on how you want to define what you see of the Mily Way doesn’t it? Those are all stars even if your eye lacks the resolving power to separate them. When I decide to ask, “How many stars can I see even though I lack the resolving power to actually see them?” I’ll call you. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/19 "2015-10-16T19:05:11Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > How much does it cost to name a galaxy? PG 1302-102 will soon be completely destroyed: the two giant black holes in its core are on the verge of colliding catastrophically. It would be a shame for this great galaxy to disappear with no name but “PG 1302-102.” > > Big Boy? Fred? Considering it’s distance from the Earth (3.5b ly), it’s likely that it was already long gone before anyone ever conceived of the idea of “PG 1302-102,” “Big Boy” or “Fred.” Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661/20 "2015-10-16T20:04:44Z")
> [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > When I decide to ask, “How many stars can I see even though I lack the resolving power to actually see them?” I’ll call you. Exactly. Kind of takes the poetry out of it. It’s actually a lovely trope. Doesn’t Jimmy Stuart propose to name a star after whats-her-name when they’re smooching on someone’s lawn in _It’s a Wonderful Life_? I’m sure others have in fiction and IRL. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-star-visible-with-the-naked-eye-have-an-accepted-name/734661.md?page=2)