Alpha designation ?

[GrahamL]

looking through the constellations i was wondering how it was decided
which star gets what... alpha ,beta ..ect.. I was thinking it was on brightness
but this dosn't always seem the case .. Is there a reason behind this?

thanks

[[1ponders]]

You're correct Graham, Alpha - brightest, Beta - second brightest and so on. Unfortunately "they" sometimes got it wrong.

Check out this link. (http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/naming.html)

[mickoking]

Some dont even have an alpha eg Puppis and Vela.

[Argonavis]

That's because in 1754 Lacaille broke up the wonderfully romantic and impressively hugh constellation of Argo Navis into the insignificant remnants of Vela, Puppis, Pyxis and Carina. The alpha star of this constellation is Canopus.

I am still rather cut about it.:mad2:

[astroron]

Why don't those mongrals of the IAU who have just demoted poor Pluto give us back our Super Constellation:P then things would be in order:lol: :lol:

[AstroJunk]

We should start pettitoning the IAU - they are probably feeling weakend by the Pluto fiasco and will be more responsive:thumbsup: