Astronomical naming conventions (English Wikipedia)

Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Astronomical naming conventions" in English language version.

Last modified: 00:21:02, 29 August 2026 (UTC)

Ref.Un. Ref.Website

Global rank English rank

4632web.archive.org

1^st place

1713iau.org

745^th place

2,951^st place

93wgsbn-iau.org

8,182^nd place

6,410^th place

74eps.harvard.edu

3,622^nd place

4,057^th place

44minorplanetcenter.net

123^rd place

779^th place

42adsabs.harvard.edu

14^th place

9^th place

22rochester.edu

2,816^th place

1,888^th place

22ianridpath.com

5,904^th place

6,273^rd place

11usgs.gov

119^th place

145^th place

11stardate.org

low place

11chandra.harvard.edu

low place

11rochesterastronomy.org

low place

11books.google.com

3^rd place

11archive.org

6^th place

adsabs.harvard.edu (Global: 14^th place; English: 9^th place)

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu

Don E. Machholz (1989), "Comet corner", Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, 33 (1), Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (U.S.): 25–28, 26, Bibcode:1989JALPO..33...25M, A hyphen (-) is used in a comet's name only to separate the discoverers. Thus, when sometimes the discover has a double name, the hyphen is dropped from the comet's name in order to show that there was only one discoverer. For example, in 1986 Stephen Singer-Brewster discovered a comet. It is known as "Comet Singer Brewster." Go to the journal search in the Astrophysics Data System Archived 2023-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, pick "Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers", volume "33", page "26". It's not in the list of abstracts, you have to check the page thumbnails.

adsabs.harvard.edu

Don E. Machholz (1989), "Comet corner", Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, 33 (1), Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (U.S.): 25–28, 26, Bibcode:1989JALPO..33...25M, A hyphen (-) is used in a comet's name only to separate the discoverers. Thus, when sometimes the discover has a double name, the hyphen is dropped from the comet's name in order to show that there was only one discoverer. For example, in 1986 Stephen Singer-Brewster discovered a comet. It is known as "Comet Singer Brewster." Go to the journal search in the Astrophysics Data System Archived 2023-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, pick "Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers", volume "33", page "26". It's not in the list of abstracts, you have to check the page thumbnails.

archive.org (Global: 6^th place; English: 6^th place)

Stan Gibilisco (1 August 1985). Comets, meteors & asteroids--how they affect Earth. Tab Books. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8306-1905-4. Retrieved 19 December 2012. What if two or more different people discover the same comet at about the same time? This problem is solved by allowing a comet to bear as many as three names. The names are separated by hyphens. Thus we have had comets such as Ikeya-Seki and Arend-Roland. It has been decided that more than three names would be ridiculous and cumbersome. Therefore, we do not hear of comets such as Jones-Smith-James-Olson-Walters-Peterson-Garcia-Welch!

books.google.com (Global: 3^rd place; English: 3^rd place)

Lutz D. Schmadel (2012), Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (6th ed.), Springer, pp. 8–9, ISBN 9783642297182

chandra.harvard.edu (Global: low place; English: low place)

"Chandra images by category: Black holes". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 10 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05.

eps.harvard.edu (Global: 3,622^nd place; English: 4,057^th place)

cbat.eps.harvard.edu

"List of Supernovae". Cbat.eps.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
"New Satellite of (134340) Pluto: S/2011 (134340) 1". Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
IAU Comet-naming Guidelines Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Committee on Small Body Nomenclature of Division III of the IAU
Compare the HTML Archived 2020-02-13 at the Wayback Machine and PDF Archived 2023-04-06 at the Wayback Machine versions of IAUC 8797: in the PDF version the designation P/1999 DN₃ is written with a subscript.

ianridpath.com (Global: 5,904^th place; English: 6,273^rd place)

Ian Ridpath: "Star Tales", Canes Venatici Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. See also Deborah J. Warner, The Sky Explored: Celestial Cartography 1500-1800.
Ridpath, Ian. "Alessandro Piccolomini's star atlas". Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-06-22.

iau.org (Global: 745^th place; English: 2,951^st place)

iau.org

"Naming Stars IAU". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
"About the IAU". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
"Buying Stars and Star Names". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
"IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
"Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released" (Press release). IAU.org. 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-11-10.
"Naming Stars". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
"The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
"Naming of exoplanets". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
"Naming Astronomical Objects: Minor Planets". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
"Division F WG Small Bodies Nomenclature (SBN) | Commissions | IAU". www.iau.org. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
Ticha, J.; et al. (10 April 2018). "DIVISION F / Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature. THE TRIENNIAL REPORT (2015 Sept 1 - 2018 Feb 15)" (PDF). International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

nameexoworlds.iau.org

"NameExoWorlds The Approved Names". Archived from the original on 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
"Approved names". NameExoworlds. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2020-01-02.

minorplanetcenter.net (Global: 123^rd place; English: 779^th place)

"How Are Minor Planets Named?". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
"MPEC 2020-T164 : (3548) Eurybates I = Queta". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
Cometary Designation System Archived 2020-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, IAU, First appearing in Minor Planet Circulars 23803-4, then in International Comet Quarterly, 16, 127
"MPEC 2018-H54 : 2. A/ Objects". Minor Planet Center. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

rochester.edu (Global: 2,816^th place; English: 1,888^th place)

pas.rochester.edu

"Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
"Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 2" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2016.

rochesterastronomy.org (Global: low place; English: low place)

Bishop, David. "Supernova discovery statistics for 2019". Rochester Academy of Science, Astronomy Section. Archived from the original on 2020-11-20. Retrieved 14 March 2021.

stardate.org (Global: low place; English: low place)

blackholes.stardate.org

"Black Hole Encyclopedia – FAQ". StarDate.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-06. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

usgs.gov (Global: 119^th place; English: 145^th place)

planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov

The assignment of "H" for Mercury is specified by the "USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature".; since the USGS usually closely follows IAU guidelines, this is very likely the IAU convention, but confirmation is needed.

web.archive.org (Global: 1^st place; English: 1^st place)

"Naming Stars IAU". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
"About the IAU". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
"Buying Stars and Star Names". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
"IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
"Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
"Final Results of NameExoWorlds Public Vote Released" (Press release). IAU.org. 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-11-10.
"Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 2" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
"Naming Stars". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
"NameExoWorlds The Approved Names". Archived from the original on 2018-02-01. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
Ian Ridpath: "Star Tales", Canes Venatici Archived 2017-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. See also Deborah J. Warner, The Sky Explored: Celestial Cartography 1500-1800.
"Approved names". NameExoworlds. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
Ridpath, Ian. "Alessandro Piccolomini's star atlas". Archived from the original on 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
"Black Hole Encyclopedia – FAQ". StarDate.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-06. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
"Chandra images by category: Black holes". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 10 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05.
"List of Supernovae". Cbat.eps.harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
Bishop, David. "Supernova discovery statistics for 2019". Rochester Academy of Science, Astronomy Section. Archived from the original on 2020-11-20. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
"The Constellations". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
"Naming of exoplanets". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
"New Satellite of (134340) Pluto: S/2011 (134340) 1". Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
"Minor Planet Naming Guidelines (Rules and Guidelines for naming non-cometary small Solar-System bodies) – v1.0" (PDF). Working Group Small Body Nomenclature (PDF). 20 December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
"IAU: WG Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN)". Working Group Small Body Nomenclature. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
"Naming Astronomical Objects: Minor Planets". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
"Division F WG Small Bodies Nomenclature (SBN) | Commissions | IAU". www.iau.org. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
"How Are Minor Planets Named?". Minor Planet Center. Archived from the original on 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
"MPEC 2020-T164 : (3548) Eurybates I = Queta". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
Ticha, J.; et al. (10 April 2018). "DIVISION F / Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature. THE TRIENNIAL REPORT (2015 Sept 1 - 2018 Feb 15)" (PDF). International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
"Reinstatement of 3-Month Moratorium on Name Proposals for Newly-Numbered Minor Planets". Working Group Small Bodies Nomenclature. 23 November 2025. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
IAU Comet-naming Guidelines Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Committee on Small Body Nomenclature of Division III of the IAU
Don E. Machholz (1989), "Comet corner", Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, 33 (1), Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (U.S.): 25–28, 26, Bibcode:1989JALPO..33...25M, A hyphen (-) is used in a comet's name only to separate the discoverers. Thus, when sometimes the discover has a double name, the hyphen is dropped from the comet's name in order to show that there was only one discoverer. For example, in 1986 Stephen Singer-Brewster discovered a comet. It is known as "Comet Singer Brewster." Go to the journal search in the Astrophysics Data System Archived 2023-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, pick "Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers", volume "33", page "26". It's not in the list of abstracts, you have to check the page thumbnails.
Cometary Designation System Archived 2020-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, IAU, First appearing in Minor Planet Circulars 23803-4, then in International Comet Quarterly, 16, 127
"MPEC 2018-H54 : 2. A/ Objects". Minor Planet Center. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
Compare the HTML Archived 2020-02-13 at the Wayback Machine and PDF Archived 2023-04-06 at the Wayback Machine versions of IAUC 8797: in the PDF version the designation P/1999 DN₃ is written with a subscript.

wgsbn-iau.org (Global: 8,182^nd place; English: 6,410^th place)

"Minor Planet Naming Guidelines (Rules and Guidelines for naming non-cometary small Solar-System bodies) – v1.0" (PDF). Working Group Small Body Nomenclature (PDF). 20 December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
"IAU: WG Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN)". Working Group Small Body Nomenclature. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
"Reinstatement of 3-Month Moratorium on Name Proposals for Newly-Numbered Minor Planets". Working Group Small Bodies Nomenclature. 23 November 2025. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 23 November 2025.

Astronomical naming conventions (English Wikipedia)

adsabs.harvard.edu (Global: 14th place; English: 9th place)

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu

adsabs.harvard.edu

archive.org (Global: 6th place; English: 6th place)

books.google.com (Global: 3rd place; English: 3rd place)

chandra.harvard.edu (Global: low place; English: low place)

eps.harvard.edu (Global: 3,622nd place; English: 4,057th place)

cbat.eps.harvard.edu

ianridpath.com (Global: 5,904th place; English: 6,273rd place)

iau.org (Global: 745th place; English: 2,951st place)

iau.org

nameexoworlds.iau.org

minorplanetcenter.net (Global: 123rd place; English: 779th place)

rochester.edu (Global: 2,816th place; English: 1,888th place)

pas.rochester.edu

rochesterastronomy.org (Global: low place; English: low place)

stardate.org (Global: low place; English: low place)

blackholes.stardate.org

usgs.gov (Global: 119th place; English: 145th place)

planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov

web.archive.org (Global: 1st place; English: 1st place)

wgsbn-iau.org (Global: 8,182nd place; English: 6,410th place)

adsabs.harvard.edu (Global: 14^th place; English: 9^th place)

archive.org (Global: 6^th place; English: 6^th place)

books.google.com (Global: 3^rd place; English: 3^rd place)

eps.harvard.edu (Global: 3,622^nd place; English: 4,057^th place)

ianridpath.com (Global: 5,904^th place; English: 6,273^rd place)

iau.org (Global: 745^th place; English: 2,951^st place)

minorplanetcenter.net (Global: 123^rd place; English: 779^th place)

rochester.edu (Global: 2,816^th place; English: 1,888^th place)

usgs.gov (Global: 119^th place; English: 145^th place)

web.archive.org (Global: 1^st place; English: 1^st place)

wgsbn-iau.org (Global: 8,182^nd place; English: 6,410^th place)