Persian illustration of Pegasus constellation

Astronomy and Society

IAU Standardizes 212 Traditional Star Names

Bringing order to chaos, the International Astronomical Union has approved standardized spellings and designations for the traditional names of 212 bright stars.

Stargazing Basics

Constellation Names and Abbreviations

Here's all the essential information about the 88 constellations.

Ursa Major from Urania's Mirror

Learning About the Sky

Star Names: Where Do They Come From and What Do They Mean?

Confused by the bizarre names that astronomers have given the stars? Here's where they come from and what they mean.