Uploaded October 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
With star names like 2MASS J05551028+0724255, it might seem like astronomers are not so great at naming things. But if you know the code, these names can actually help you find the star in the sky.
Hosted by: Reid Reimers
----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporter for helping us keep SciShow Space free for everyone forever: Jason A Saslow, David Brooks, and AndyGneiss!
Support SciShow Space by becoming a patron on Patreon: patreon.com/SciShowSpace
Or by checking out our awesome space pins and other products over at DFTBA Records: dftba.com/scishow
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Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
SciShow on TikTok: tiktok.com/@scishow
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Twitter: twitter.com/scishow
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Sources:
iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars
https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=HD+39801
https://cds.unistra.fr/cgi-bin/Dic-Simbad?BD%2b07
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995yCat.1122....0A/abstract
http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=I/122/bd
solarsystem.nasa.gov/basics/chapter2-2
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/motion1/cec_units.html
britannica.com/science/right-ascension
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/right-ascension-declination-celestial-coordinates
heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/all/bd.html
iau.org/administration/about
https://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Dic/iau-spec.html
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Betelgeuse_captured_by_ALMA.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_Head_to_Toe.jpg
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/orion-constellation-royalty-free-illustration/1203038669?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/great-ocean-road-at-night-milky-way-view-royalty-free-image/498309616?phrase=stargazing&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AxialTiltObliquity.png
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/orion-kenidjack-castle-cornwall-uk-royalty-free-image/1381725810?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/high-detailed-sky-maps-vector-set-royalty-free-illustration/859199494?phrase=star%20map&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simple_Constellation_Map.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Sufi%27s_Orion,_1125_Baghdad_copy,_Doha_Museum_of_Islamic_Art_Ms_2._1998._SO.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dunhuang_Star_Atlas_-_Orion.jpg
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/star-map-of-northern-hemisphere-royalty-free-image/157280056?phrase=star%20map&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_IAU.svg
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/orion-constellation-vector-illustration-with-royalty-free-illustration/1061064662?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20339
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eta_Cassiopeiae.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Celestial_Pole.ogv
With star names like 2MASS J05551028+0724255, it might seem like astronomers are not so great at naming things. But if you know the code, these names can actually help you find the star in the sky.
Hosted by: Reid Reimers
----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporter for helping us keep SciShow Space free for everyone forever: Jason A Saslow, David Brooks, and AndyGneiss!
Support SciShow Space by becoming a patron on Patreon: patreon.com/SciShowSpace
Or by checking out our awesome space pins and other products over at DFTBA Records: dftba.com/scishow
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
SciShow on TikTok: tiktok.com/@scishow
SciShow Tangents Podcast: scishowtangents.org
Facebook: facebook.com/scishow
Twitter: twitter.com/scishow
Instagram: instagram.com/thescishow
----------
Sources:
iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars
https://simbad.cds.unistra.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=HD+39801
https://cds.unistra.fr/cgi-bin/Dic-Simbad?BD%2b07
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995yCat.1122....0A/abstract
http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=I/122/bd
solarsystem.nasa.gov/basics/chapter2-2
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/motion1/cec_units.html
britannica.com/science/right-ascension
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/right-ascension-declination-celestial-coordinates
heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/all/bd.html
iau.org/administration/about
https://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Dic/iau-spec.html
Images:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Betelgeuse_captured_by_ALMA.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_Head_to_Toe.jpg
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/orion-constellation-royalty-free-illustration/1203038669?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/great-ocean-road-at-night-milky-way-view-royalty-free-image/498309616?phrase=stargazing&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AxialTiltObliquity.png
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/orion-kenidjack-castle-cornwall-uk-royalty-free-image/1381725810?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/high-detailed-sky-maps-vector-set-royalty-free-illustration/859199494?phrase=star%20map&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simple_Constellation_Map.png
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Sufi%27s_Orion,_1125_Baghdad_copy,_Doha_Museum_of_Islamic_Art_Ms_2._1998._SO.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dunhuang_Star_Atlas_-_Orion.jpg
gettyimages.com/detail/photo/star-map-of-northern-hemisphere-royalty-free-image/157280056?phrase=star%20map&adppopup=true
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orion_IAU.svg
gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/orion-constellation-vector-illustration-with-royalty-free-illustration/1061064662?phrase=betelgeuse&adppopup=true
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20339
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eta_Cassiopeiae.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Celestial_Pole.ogv
