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Rigel
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== Nomenclature == [[File:Orion Head to Toe.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Bright points of light against a dark background with wisps of colored nebulosity|[[Orion (constellation)|Orion]], with Rigel at bottom right, at optical wavelengths plus the Hα ([[hydrogen-alpha]]) spectral line to emphasize gas clouds]] In 2016, the [[International Astronomical Union]] (IAU) included the name "Rigel" in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.<ref name="IAU-CSN"/><ref name="WGSN2018"/> According to the IAU, this proper name applies only to the primary component A of the Rigel system. The system is listed variously in historical [[astronomical catalogs]] as [[Herschel Catalogue of Double Stars|H{{spaces}}II]]{{spaces}}33, [[Struve Double Star Catalog|Σ]]{{spaces}}668, [[Burnham Double Star Catalogue|β]]{{spaces}}555, or [[Aitken Double Star Catalogue|ADS]]{{spaces}}3823. For simplicity, Rigel's companions are referred to as Rigel B,<ref name="WGSN2018"/> C, and D;<ref name="kalerrigel" /><ref name="garfinkle1997"/> the IAU describes such names as "useful nicknames" that are "unofficial".<ref name="WGSN2018"/> In modern comprehensive catalogs, the whole multiple star system is known as [[Washington Double Star Catalog|WDS]] 05145-0812 or [[Catalog of Components of Double and Multiple Stars|CCDM]] 05145–0812.<ref name=WDS/><ref name=CCDM/><!--SIMBAD adds J; i.e. WDS J05145-0812 or CCDM J05145-0812--> The designation of Rigel as β Orionis ([[Latinisation of names|Latinized]] to Beta Orionis) was made by [[Johann Bayer]] in 1603. The "beta" designation is commonly given to the second-brightest star in each constellation, but Rigel is almost always brighter than α Orionis ([[Betelgeuse]]).<ref name="schaaf"/> Astronomer [[James B. Kaler]] has speculated that Rigel was designated by Bayer during a rare period when it was outshone by the variable star Betelgeuse, resulting in the latter star being designated "alpha" and Rigel designated "beta".<ref name="kalerrigel"/> Bayer did not strictly order the stars by brightness, instead grouping them by magnitude.<ref name=ridpath/> Rigel and Betelgeuse were both considered to be of the first magnitude class, and in Orion the stars of each class are thought to have been ordered north to south.<ref name=moore1996/> Rigel is included in the [[General Catalogue of Variable Stars]], but since it already has a [[Bayer designation]] it has no separate [[variable star designation]].<ref name=baa/> Rigel has many other [[Stellar designations and names|stellar designations]] taken from various catalogs, including the [[Flamsteed designation]] 19{{spaces}}Orionis (19 Ori), the [[Bright Star Catalogue]] entry HR{{spaces}}1713, and the [[Henry Draper Catalogue]] number HD{{spaces}}34085. These designations frequently appear in the scientific literature,<ref name=msc/><ref name=schultz/><ref name=markova/> but rarely in popular writing.<ref name=garfinkle1997/><ref name=burnham/>
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