The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is an international non-governmental organization that acts as the recognized authority for assigning designations and names to celestial bodies and surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU's mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation, including research, communication, education, and development. It works with organizations like the United Nations to mitigate the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy and the visibility of the night sky. The IAU's activities include organizing scientific meetings, setting uniform definitions for astronomical principles, and coordinating with partners like UNESCO.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union confirmed Rubin Observatory’s preliminary asteroid discoveries.
The crew proposed the crater name “Integrity” for submission to the International Astronomical Union.
The crew proposed the crater name “Carroll” for submission to the International Astronomical Union.
The International Astronomical Union oversees naming of celestial bodies and surface features.
The proposed lunar crater names will be formally submitted after the mission to the International Astronomical Union.
The International Astronomical Union led a study finding that Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites currently exceed brightness recommendations intended to protect ground-based astronomy.
The International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature manages the asteroid naming process.
The International Astronomical Union approved the naming of 10 asteroids in 2025 after people and places associated with the European Space Agency’s efforts to protect Earth from asteroids and comets.
Asteroid names proposed to the International Astronomical Union must follow specific guidelines, such as being no longer than 16 characters.
In classic black widow binaries, the companion is a low-mass star, but PSR J2322-2650b is classified as an exoplanet by the International Astronomical Union.
The International Astronomical Union established the working group Astronomy from the Moon in 2024 to define and rank key lunar sites for astronomical work.
Corrected magnitude represents the apparent brightness of satellites adjusted for distance, with a maximum threshold set by the International Astronomical Union of 7.2.
Astronomers are exploring funding models for SatHub, potentially seeking support from the International Astronomical Union.