Bayer designation

The Bayer designation is a system used to label and identify stars in the night sky, created by the astronomer Johann Bayer in 1603. Each star is assigned a Greek letter, followed by the name of the constellation it resides in. For example, "Alpha Centauri" indicates it is the brightest star in the Centaurus constellation. This system helps astronomers categorize stars based on their brightness within each constellation, making it easier for both scientists and enthusiasts to reference and locate them. The Bayer designation is still widely used today in astronomy.