Kelly Beatty wrote:

I researched this very question a couple years ago, asking the
officials on the appropirate IAU committee. the answer is that not only
is the IAU not interested assigning common names (for $$ or otherwise),
but also that the IAU has actually never voted to approve any of the
*existing* common names (e.g. Deneb).

the IAU style book does recommend using the Yale Bright Star Catalog as
a source for common names, though.

hope that helps,
Kelly


Thanks Kelly.
-Sam