<p>VY Canis Majoris and UY Scuti are variable star designations. The first discovered variable star in a constellation is called R, the second, S, and then unto Z. After Z comes RR and so on. For a full description see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_star_designation" rel="noreferrer">this wikipedia page</a>. NML Cygni is also a variable star, but its variable star designation is V1489 Cygni. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NML_Cygni#Observational_history" rel="noreferrer">The letters NML come from its discoverers: Neugebauer, Martz, and Leighton.</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-05T22:32:07.713Z
Ah, thanks, NML was throwing me off. I couldn't figure out where that was coming from.
RoyF
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-05T16:21:22.087Z
2015-01-05T16:21:22.087Z
Dieudonné
<p>I've read the <a href="https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/#stars" rel="noreferrer">a IAU page</a> on the subject but i am no closer to understanding how this works. Also did search the already asked question, but didn't see anything on the subject.</p>

<p>What does bolded item in the names below stand for? How do they choose them?</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>VY</strong> Canis Majoris</li>
<li><strong>NML</strong> Cygni</li>
<li><strong>UY</strong> Scuti</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-11T18:34:16.073Z
Here is a better page from IAU (granted it might not have existed in 2015): https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars/
5260452
<star><naming>
What does designation VY, NML, UU in star names stand for?
RoyF
# What does designation VY, NML, UU in star names stand for?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-05)

I've read the [a IAU page](https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/#stars) on the subject but i am no closer to understanding how this works. Also did search the already asked question, but didn't see anything on the subject.

What does bolded item in the names below stand for? How do they choose them?

* **VY** Canis Majoris
* **NML** Cygni
* **UY** Scuti

**Tags:** star, naming

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Here is a better page from IAU (granted it might not have existed in 2015): https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming_stars/  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-05. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

VY Canis Majoris and UY Scuti are variable star designations. The first discovered variable star in a constellation is called R, the second, S, and then unto Z. After Z comes RR and so on. For a full description see [this wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_star_designation). NML Cygni is also a variable star, but its variable star designation is V1489 Cygni. [The letters NML come from its discoverers: Neugebauer, Martz, and Leighton.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NML_Cygni#Observational_history)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah, thanks, NML was throwing me off. I couldn't figure out where that was coming from.  

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