The brightest twenty-six stars, if there that many stars assigned, usually use the Greek Alphabet by decreasing magnitude in each constellation. As these we originally made by naked-eye observations, the order of brightest may be significantly alter the order now made by more exact means.
| α Alpha | β Beta | γ Gamma | δ Delta | ε Epsilon | ζ Zeta | η Eta |
| θ Theta | ι Iota | κ Kappa | λ Lambda | μ Mu | ν Nu | ξ Xi |
| ο Omicron | π Pi | ρ Rho | σ Sigma | τ Tau | υ Upsilon | φ Phi |
| χ Chi | ψ Psi | ω Omega |
| Genitive for Crux (Cru) is Crucis | Genitive for Eridanus (Eri) is Eridani |
| Genitive for Vela (Vel) is Velorum | Genitive for Tucana (Tuc) is Tucanae |
| Genitive for Orion (Ori) is Orionis | Genitive for Centaurus (Cen) is Centauri |
When writing out star names, it is more practicable to use the shorthand abbreviations than the full name of Greek Letter and genitive of the constellation. The terminology was set in 1930 at the same times as the constellation names. Each constellation abbreviation had initially four letters for the constellation, but this was changed to the familiar three letters we use today. Examples include;
| α Cen | for Alpha Centauri |
| β1 Tuc | for Beta (1) Tucanae |
| ι Ind | for Iota Indi |
| ζ Ori | for Zeta Orionis |
Some stars can be in two constellations, but fortunately these are rare.
| β Tauri | is also α Aurigae |
| α Andromedae | is also δ Pegasi |
Some stars designations are now written for use with computers, mainly because keyboards are unable to type foreign and Roman letters simultaneously with easy. On-line catalogues, like SIMBAD use different syntax; Ie. Bright stars are written *alp Tau meaning the “Star alpha Tauri” If stars have a bright as a visual companion star nearby, but is not actually visual double. Ie. δ1,2 Apodis have each star designated individually *del1 Aps and *del2 Aps.
The brightest stars in the sky usually have common or proper names, but most being only used for convenience when observers are talking about the stars. It is recommended that the amateur puts the first twenty to memory. Over one hundred official names exist for the prominent stars that are all recognised by the IAU, with most of them appearing in the northern hemisphere. Most stars with names are usually near the prominent constellations. A few star clusters visible to the naked eye also have names; the Pleiades, the Hyades, the Praesepe or Beehive; the Southern Pleiades and the Jewel Box.
Of southern stars, most of the modern constellations do not generally have proper names, except the brightest of stars like Canopus and Achernar, which date from the early middle ages. Others were named by the northern hemisphere observers starting from about 1850 to 1870, when naming stars was fashionable.
It is wrong and unlawful to rename or sell star names, unless approved officially by the I.A.U. Some charlatans have dared to have sold stars, usually naming them after the individual who bought it. The brighter the star, the higher the price. These tricksters play on the human emotions regarding immortality, presumably because your name will be eternally placed in the sky. Of course, this does not mean that star names cannot be added or changed. The I.A.U. is fortunately highly democratic. If many responses to particularly favoured names are suggested and they become commonly used, they could be submitted for ratification and changed. Several of these names stayed, including Acrux, Atria, Hadar and Mimosa. Some stars even date from the twentieth century, like Gacrux, and the second brightest star Rigel Kentaurus or Toliman named by the early aviators for navigation purposes.
Most astronomers still prefer to use Alpha Centauri, as the other names never really ‘caught on’. In some ways Alpha Centauri is the proper name!
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STAR NAME RA Dec. Mag. Sp.
hh mm.m o ' (v)
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α Eri Achernar 01 37.0 -57 20 +0.51 B3
α UMa Polaris 02 12.5 +89 11 +1.99V F8
α Per Mirfak 03 22.9 +49 47 +1.80 F5
α Tau Aldebaran 04 34.8 +16 28 +0.86V K5
β Ori Rigel 05 13.6 -08 13 +0.14V B8
α Aur Capella 05 15.2 +45 59 +0.05 G8
γ Ori Bellatrix 05 24.0 +06 20 +1.64 B2
β Tau Elnath 05 25.0 +28 36 +1.65 B7
ε Ori Alnilam 05 35.2 -01 13 +1.70 B0
ζ Ori Alnitak 05 39.7 -01 57 +1.79 O9
α Ori Betelgeuse 05 54.0 +07 24 +0.41V M2
β Aur Menkalinan 05 58.0 +44 57 +1.76 A2
β CMa Mirzam 06 21.8 -17 56 +1.96V B1
α Car Canopus 06 23.5 -52 41 -0.72 F0
γ Gem Alhena 06 36.6 +16 25 +1.93 A0
α CMa Sirius 06 44.2 -16 42 -1.47 A1
ε CMa Adhara 06 57.8 -28 57 +1.48 B2
δ CMa Wezen 07 07.6 -26 22 +1.85 F8
α Gem Castor 07 33.3 +31 56 +1.97 A1
α CMi Procyon 07 38.2 +05 17 +0.37 F5
β Gem Pollux 07 44.1 +28 05 +1.16 K0
γ Vel Suhai l0 08.9 -47 18 +1.83 K4
ε Car Avior 08 22.1 -59 26 +1.90 K3
δ Vel Delvela* 08 44.2 -54 38 +1.95 A2
β Car Miaplacidus 09 13.0 -69 38 +1.67 A1
α Hya Alphard 09 26.6 -08 35 +1.98 K4
α Leo Regulus 10 07.3 +12 04 +1.36 B7
γ Leo Algieba 10 18.8 +19 57 +1.99 K0
α UMa Dubhe 11 02.5 +61 52 +1.81 F8
α Cru Acrux 12 25.4 -62 59 +1.39 B0
γ Cru Gacrux 12 30.1 -57 00 +1.69 M4
β Cru Mimosa 12 46.6 -59 35 +1.28V B0
ε UMa Alioth 12 53.2 +56 04 +1.79V A0
α Vir Spica 13 24.1 -11 03 +0.91V B1
η UMa Alkaid 13 46.8 +49 25 +1.87 B3
β Cen Hadar 14 02.4 -60 16 +0.63V B1
α Boo Arcturus 14 14.8 +19 17 -0.06 K2
α Cen Rigel Kent 14 38.4 -60 46 +0.01 G2
α Sco Antares 16 28.2 -26 23 +0.92V M1
α TrA Atria 16 46.5 -68 60 +1.93 K2
λ Sco Shaula 17 32.3 -37 05 +1.60V B1
θ Sco Sargas 17 35.9 -42 59 +1.86 F0
ε Sgr Kaus Australis 18 22.9 -34 24 +1.81 B9
α Lyr Vega 18 36.2 +38 46 +0.04 A0
α Aql Altair 19 49.8 +08 49 +0.77 A7
α Pav Peacock 20 24.1 -56 48 +1.95 B2
α Cyg Deneb 20 40.7 +45 12 +1.26 A2
α Gru Al Na'ir 22 06.9 -47 04 +1.76 B7
α PsA Formalhaut 22 56.5 -29 44 +1.15 A3
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STAR NAME RA Dec. Mag. Sp.
hh mm.m o ' (v)
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α Eri Achernar 01 37.0 -57 20 +0.51 B3
β Ori Rigel 05 13.6 -08 13 +0.14V B8
ε Ori Alnilam 05 35.2 -01 13 +1.70 B0
ζ Ori Alnitak 05 39.7 -01 57 +1.79 O9
β CMa Mirzam 06 21.8 -17 56 +1.96V B1
α Car Canopus 06 23.5 -52 41 -0.72 F0
α CMa Sirius 06 44.2 -16 42 -1.47 A1
ε CMa Adhara 06 57.8 -28 57 +1.48 B2
δ CMa Wezen 07 07.6 -26 22 +1.85 F8
γ Vel Suhai l0 08.9 -47 18 +1.83 K4
ε Car Avior 08 22.1 -59 26 +1.90 K3
δ Vel Delvela* 08 44.2 -54 38 +1.95 A2
β Car Miaplacidus 09 13.0 -69 38 +1.67 A1
α Hya Alphard 09 26.6 -08 35 +1.98 K4
α Cru Acrux 12 25.4 -62 59 +1.39 B0
γ Cru Gacrux 12 30.1 -57 00 +1.69 M4
β Cru Mimosa 12 46.6 -59 35 +1.28V B0
α Vir Spica 13 24.1 -11 03 +0.91V B1
β Cen Hadar 14 02.4 -60 16 +0.63V B1
α Cen Rigel Kent 14 38.4 -60 46 +0.01 G2
α Sco Antares 16 28.2 -26 23 +0.92V M1
α TrA Atria 16 46.5 -68 60 +1.93 K2
λ Sco Shaula 17 32.3 -37 05 +1.60V B1
θ Sco Sargas 17 35.9 -42 59 +1.86 F0
ε Sgr Kaus Australis 18 22.9 -34 24 +1.81 B9
α Pav Peacock 20 24.1 -56 48 +1.95 B2
α Gru Al Na'ir 22 06.9 -47 04 +1.76 B7
α PsA Formalhaut 22 56.5 -29 44 +1.15 A3
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STAR NAME RA Dec. Mag. Sp.
hh mm.m o ' (v)
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α UMa Polaris 02 12.5 +89 11 +1.99V F8
α Per Mirfak 03 22.9 +49 47 +1.80 F5
α Tau Aldebaran 04 34.8 +16 28 +0.86V K5
α Aur Capella 05 15.2 +45 59 +0.05 G8
γ Ori Bellatrix 05 24.0 +06 20 +1.64 B2
β Tau Elnath 05 25.0 +28 36 +1.65 B7
α Ori Betelgeuse 05 54.0 +07 24 +0.41V M2
β Aur Menkalinan 05 58.0 +44 57 +1.76 A2
γ Gem Alhena 06 36.6 +16 25 +1.93 A0
α Gem Castor 07 33.3 +31 56 +1.97 A1
α CMi Procyon 07 38.2 +05 17 +0.37 F5
β Gem Pollux 07 44.1 +28 05 +1.16 K0
α Leo Regulus 10 07.3 +12 04 +1.36 B7
γ Leo Algieba 10 18.8 +19 57 +1.99 K0
α UMa Dubhe 11 02.5 +61 52 +1.81 F8
ε UMa Alioth 12 53.2 +56 04 +1.79V A0
α Boo Arcturus 14 14.8 +19 17 -0.06 K2
α Lyr Vega 18 36.2 +38 46 +0.04 A0
α Aql Altair 19 49.8 +08 49 +0.77 A7
α Cyg Deneb 20 40.7 +45 12 +1.26 A2
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