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Old May 4th 04, 12:55 PM
Abdul Ahad
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"CLT" not@thisaddress wrote in message ...
BTW: What are the rules for naming stars after people's names? I know
there's a lot of scam out there where, for a small fee, people can
*name* stars that have no previous names in any IAU authorised star
catalogs. Are these recognised in Astronomical circles?


Absolutely! Haven't you heard of the SAO star catalog? It stands for "Sold
Astronomical Objects."

These international star *registries* are selling objects from the SAO
catalogue (SAO once stood for "Simthsonian Astrophysical Observatory")
at scores of dollars a piece...and getting mighty wealthy in the
process too. Who wants to trade physical diamonds, emeralds and
saphires in a jewelery shop these days when their 'virtual'
equivalents are scattered right across the night sky in their myriad
of scintillating colours and luminiscent, heavenly sparkle!?


Of course, astronomers are
jealous that they didn't think of it first. Therefore astronomers have
resisted using the names. In a passive-aggressive move, they have refused to use the full names, and are using only the numbers.


I think Astronomers are trying to keep their narrow interests as niche
and as 'exclusive' as possible with a definite sense of professional
pride. Conventionally, naming stars and celestial objects after
specific individuals has always been reserved for those who have made
a noteworthy contribution in the field.

I don't entirely disagree with this principle...keeps the "riff raff"
out! Imagine if Dell Boy (UK Only Fools and Horses) came on the scene
and named some of the sky's brightest stars after his little Peckham
mob and fictitious market trading company of TIT (Trotters Independent
Traders plc) with absolutely no interest or background in Astronomy!!!

On the other hand, I feel there are far too many of *us* genuine, hard
working Astronomical enthusiasts on this news group who, in my view,
are too precious to go unnoticed through life without having a star
named after us!

And on that note, I hereby pronounce that the star 119 Tauri from this
day forth be universally referred to as Abdul Ahad's "Ruby Star":-

http://uk.geocities.com/aa_spaceagen...hads_star.html

Yesterday evening, I had one last look at it through my telescope
before its lost from view in the rapidly engulfing twilight. The
magnified image I saw was absolutely "breathtaking", with the star's
unique, ruby red colour remaining dominant over and above the
secondary colours produced by scintillation. Nothing to beat that
feeling!

eventually astronomers everywhere will have to
acknowledge the officialness of these names and use the full names and not
just the Sold Astronomical Objects numbers.
("It must be official. I have an official laser-printer certificate!")


I have an idea. How about each person on this group (uk.sci.astronomy)
picks a star which they really like and we name it after them?! It
could be fun and like a bit of a quiz. Conditions could be imposed for
keeping the naming convention a little bit challenging... Some sort of
criteria could be:-

1. The star must not already have a proper name (e.g. Sirius, Algenib,
etc) or a name in common use (e.g. Garnet Star, Pistol Star, Ruby Star
(the one I've just named!) etc)

2. You must be able to quote some unique or exceptional attribute
about your star, which no one else has cited before

3. You will have photographed or seen it with your own eye (and be
able to validate your claim!)

4. Only ONE star in the whole sky can be named per person

5. Once you have decided on the unique name for your unique star, you
can't change it.

[......Plus other criteria to be decided by this group.....]

So... Go on Chuck, on the next clear night do your sky research and
name your star! I will then take steps, on your behalf if you wish,
to make a public announcement and communicate your named star out on
to all the other Astronomy news groups on Google to ensure it cacthes
on with the world's online Astronomy communities... Forever!!!

Abdul Ahad

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Abdul Ahad