How are the exoplanets named?
A planet is named after the star around which it orbits (beta Pictoris, AU ? Mic, …), followed by a Latin letter, b for the first planet discovered around this star, c, for the next, and so on, or after the name of the mission (Kepler, TESS, …) +b, c, d.
A star is named after the constellation in which it is found. The name of the constellation is preceded, in order of brightness of the star, by a Greek or Latin letter, or a digit which depends on the position of the star. 336 stars have a name that is officially recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
When a star is discovered to be binary, a B is added for the name of the companion star, C, D... if part of a multiple system, and A is added to the name of the star. When the star is isolated, the A is not added. The letters of the planets begin with b to avoid confusing companion stars and planets.
For example , 16 Cyg B b is the first exoplanet of star 16 Cyg B, which is the companion star of the star 16 Cyg A in the constellation of Cygnus.
Beta Pic c is the second exoplanet of the star beta Pic (which is an isolated star, the second brightest in the constellation of Pictor).
The [International Astronomical Union (IAU) has given a name to some of these planets. On 15 December 2015, 31 exoplanets received a name chosen by a public vote and then validated by the IAU. Half a million votes from 182 countries led to the names below.
When they already existed, the IAU kept the old star names, such as Iota Draconis, which was traditionally Edasich.
For each planetary system, the following list gives the name of the star and then the name of the different planets in this system.
- Star 14 Andromeda : Veritate
Planet 14 Andromeda b : Spe
- Star 18 Delphini: Musica
Planet 18 Delphini b: Arion
- Star 42 Draconis: Fafnir
Planet 42 Draconis b: Orbitar
- Star 47 Great Bear : Chalawan
Planet 47 Ursae Majoris b: Taphao Thong
Planet 47 Ursae Majoris c : Taphao Kaew
- Star 51 Pegasus: Helvetios
Planet 51 Pegasus b: Dimidium
- Star 55 Cancri: Copernicus
Planet 55 Cancri b: Galileo
Planet 55 Cancri c: Brahe
Planet 55 Cancri d: Lippershey
Planet 55 Cancri e: Janssen
Planet 55 Cancri f: Harriot
- The star Epsilon Tauri already had a name: Ain
Planet Ain b (Epsilon Tauri b): Amataru
- The star Iota Draconis already had a name: Edasich
Planet Edasich b (Iota Draconis b) : Hypatia
- Star Epsilon Eridani: Ran
Planet epsilon Eridani b: AEgir
- The star Gamma Cephei already had a name: Errai
Planet Errai b (Gamma Cephei b) : Tadmor
- The star Alpha Piscis Austrini already had a name: Fomalhaut
Planet Fomalhaut b (Alpha Piscis Austrini b): Dagon
- Star HD 104985: Tonatiuh
Planet HD 104985 b: Meztli
- Star HD 149026:: Ogma
Planet HD 149026 b: : Smertrios
- Star HD 81688: Intercrus
Planet HD 81688 b: Arkas
- Star mu Arae: Cervantes
Planet mu Arae b : Quijote
Planet mu Arae c: Dulcinea
Planet mu Arae d : Rocinante
Planet mu Arae e : Sancho
- The beta star in Gemini already had a name: Pollux
Planet Pollux b (beta Gemini b) : Thestias
- Star PSR 1257+12:: Lich
Planet PSR 1257+12 b : Draug
Planet PSR 1257+12 c : Poltergeist
Planet PSR 1257+12 d : Phobetor
- Star Upsilon Andromedae: Titawin
Planet upsilon Andromedae b : Saffar
Planet upsilon Andromedae c : Samh
Planet upsilon Andromedae d : Majriti
- Star xi Aquilae: Libertas
Planet xi Aquilae b : Fortitudo
