Just a general query here for anybody who wants to field it.
Re: Bayer Designation ?
As I understand it, this is generally a listing of stars...I.E.. within a given [parent] constellation along with a rather antiquated mode of ascribing what's now known as Apparent Magnitude.
The Bayer Designation 'system' employs Greek and lower case Latin letters if I'm not mistaken?
Before I even attempt it, why should I bother learning to interpret and understand this rather ancient system?
Is there any really 'obvious' dividend to be had from doing so that I'm missing?
I'll tell you why I ask.
When I turn my attention to an individual star, asterism, constellation or cluster....
....the first [basic] things I attempt to try and memorise are:
A/ Names
B/ Distances In Light Years
C/ Apparent Magnitudes. [numeric]
I find the Bayer Designations to be somewhat superfluous in these initial 'getting to know you' stages, but a lot of contemporary literature, astronomical software programs and online resources seem determined to cite them.
What am I missing here?
What will my learning to accurately read this ancient 'Bayer' cipher give me that my above A, B & C method does not?
You see, once I have satisfied myself with A, B & C....I then tend to zone in on things like a particular star's history, it's mass, age and temperature etc.....which all helps to build a good mental image of the little white dot I'm actually looking at through my rather humble 10 x 50 binoculars.
Bayer Designations !!
In this day and age...who honestly needs them?
Apart from Bayer himself perhaps, [back in the day] along with his long dead contemporaries?
