NameExoWorlds (also known as IAU NameExoWorlds) is the name of various projects managed by the

International Astronomical Union The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...

(I.A.U.) to encourage names to be submitted for

astronomical object An astronomical object, celestial object, stellar object or heavenly body is a naturally occurring physical entity, association, or structure that exists in the observable universe. In astronomy, the terms ''object'' and ''body'' are often u ...

s, which would later be considered for official adoption by the organization.

History

The first such project (NameExoWorlds I), in 2015, regarded the naming of

star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...

s and

exoplanet An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System. The first possible evidence of an exoplanet was noted in 1917 but was not recognized as such. The first confirmation of detection occurred in 1992. A different planet, init ...

s. 573,242 votes were submitted by members by the time the contest closed on October 31, 2015, and the names of 31 exoplanets and 14 stars were selected from these. Many of the names chosen were based on world history, mythology and literature. In June 2019, another such project (NameExoWorlds II), in celebration of the organization's hundredth anniversary, in a project officially called IAU100 NameExoWorlds, welcomed countries of the world to submit names for

s and their host stars. A star with an exoplanet was assigned to each country, and members of the public submitted names for them. In August 2022, the third NameExoWorlds project was announced, which will give names to 20 exoplanets and their host stars, all of which are targets for observation by the

James Webb Space Telescope The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Sp ...

References

External links

Official WebSiteNaming rulesVoting statistics2015 winners2019 contest
* * * {{Portal bar, Astronomy, Solar System, Space, Star * Stars Proper Lists of stars

History

See also

References

External links