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A Greek letter with a constellation's genitive name.
Also known as: Greek letter star names, Alpha Centauri notation
A Bayer designation names a star with a Greek letter and the Latin genitive of its constellation — Alpha Centauri, Beta Ursae Majoris. The letters were meant to run in order of brightness within each constellation and often do not, because Bayer worked from naked-eye estimates in 1603.
Names a star with a Greek letter followed by the genitive form of its constellation's Latin name.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Maps
Was intended to order stars by brightness within each constellation and frequently fails to, since the ordering rests on naked-eye estimates made in 1603.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Maps
Ran out of Greek letters in populous constellations, which is why Latin letters and numbers follow in the same scheme.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Maps
A Greek letter followed by a Latin word in italic, printed on a star chart or in a catalogue.