<p>You probably need someone better versed in the history of astronomy than me, but I'll give it a stab.</p>

<p>As you've already noticed, the Wikipedia article on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_named_after_people" rel="nofollow">stars named after people</a> has some entries, and that's probably about it.  In terms of modern naming procedures, we tend to use catalogue names. Unlike, say, asteroids, there's no systematic way of naming stars after people or anything else, so stars usually continue to be referred to only by catalogue number. Those rare stars that are named after people (or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol_Star" rel="nofollow">something else</a>) are usually because they are now somehow historically associated with that system.  Unless, of course, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Draper_Catalogue" rel="nofollow">catalogue is named after someone</a>!  Another exception are those very bright stars with pre-telescope names, but those aren't named after people (e.g. many scientific papers refer to Betelgeuse as such).</p>

<p>I guess in short, there's just no standard modern naming procedure by which a star can end up with a person's name, so few exist, and probably most are listed in the Wikipedia article.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-23T20:12:26.897Z
2015-10-23T20:12:26.897Z
Warrick
<p>I know of a Barnard's Star, and also Herschel's star...</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-23T16:45:57.677Z
2015-10-23T16:45:57.677Z
GCien
<p>Most apparent stars have ancient names. But some of the newer (since 200 or so years) discoveries have been given the name of some prominent astronomer. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapteyn%27s_Star" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kapteyn's star</a> is one example, and there are several more in that Wikipedia article. Edward Barnard et cetera. But there aren't too many, are there? It seems hard to get ones name attached to a star, or am I missing a bunch?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/VaOGG.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VaOGG.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tkzdd.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tkzdd.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
Kapteyn and his tie knot matching star</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RhGUJ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RhGUJ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/George_Van_Biesbroeck.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Astronomy was never easy</a>, there's always more to see. Star namer van Biesbroeck in action with his flaring tiny red dwarf.</p>

<star><history><naming>
Which stars have been named after astronomers?
LocalFluff
# Which stars have been named after astronomers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-23)

Most apparent stars have ancient names. But some of the newer (since 200 or so years) discoveries have been given the name of some prominent astronomer. [Kapteyn's star](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapteyn%27s_Star) is one example, and there are several more in that Wikipedia article. Edward Barnard et cetera. But there aren't too many, are there? It seems hard to get ones name attached to a star, or am I missing a bunch?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/VaOGG.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/VaOGG.png)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/tkzdd.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tkzdd.png)
Kapteyn and his tie knot matching star

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/RhGUJ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/RhGUJ.png)

[Astronomy was never easy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/George_Van_Biesbroeck.jpg), there's always more to see. Star namer van Biesbroeck in action with his flaring tiny red dwarf.

**Tags:** star, history, naming


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-10-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

You probably need someone better versed in the history of astronomy than me, but I'll give it a stab.

As you've already noticed, the Wikipedia article on [stars named after people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_named_after_people) has some entries, and that's probably about it. In terms of modern naming procedures, we tend to use catalogue names. Unlike, say, asteroids, there's no systematic way of naming stars after people or anything else, so stars usually continue to be referred to only by catalogue number. Those rare stars that are named after people (or [something else](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistol_Star)) are usually because they are now somehow historically associated with that system. Unless, of course, the [catalogue is named after someone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Draper_Catalogue)! Another exception are those very bright stars with pre-telescope names, but those aren't named after people (e.g. many scientific papers refer to Betelgeuse as such).

I guess in short, there's just no standard modern naming procedure by which a star can end up with a person's name, so few exist, and probably most are listed in the Wikipedia article.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-10-23. Score: 0

I know of a Barnard's Star, and also Herschel's star...


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