Stjärnbeteckningar

Stjärnbeteckningar, often translated as star designations or star names, refer to the systems used to identify individual stars. Historically, many bright stars were given proper names, often derived from ancient languages like Latin, Greek, or Arabic. Examples include Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Vega. These traditional names are still widely used today.

In addition to proper names, astronomers use a variety of catalog systems for more systematic identification. The most common are based on stellar catalogs, such as the Bayer designation, which uses Greek letters followed by the genitive case of the constellation the star belongs to (e.g., Alpha Centauri, Beta Orionis). This system is particularly useful for bright stars within a constellation.

Another important system is the Flamsteed designation, which assigns numbers to stars within a constellation, usually in order of increasing right ascension. For fainter or more numerous stars, catalog designations like the Henry Draper Catalogue (HD numbers) or the Hipparcos Catalogue (HIP numbers) are employed, providing unique numerical identifiers. Modern surveys and research projects often create their own specialized catalogs with alphanumeric designations. These various stjärnbeteckningar allow astronomers to precisely refer to and study individual celestial objects.