A Look at the Naming of Exoplanets

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Most exoplanets are named starting with "HD" because they are designated based on the stars they orbit, specifically those listed in the Henry Draper star catalog. The "HD" prefix is followed by a number representing the star, and lowercase letters indicate the planets, with "a" denoting the closest planet to the star. This naming convention helps categorize and identify exoplanets systematically. The use of the Henry Draper catalog is a significant factor in the prevalence of these names. Understanding this system clarifies the relationship between stars and their orbiting planets.
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Why most extrasolar planet names start with the letters HD
 
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I believe they are named for the stars that they orbit. HD is a common star name because it appears listed in the Henry Draper star catalog. Hence you see names like HD ####### followed by lowercase letter designating which planet out with "a" being the closest in planet.

This is my understanding anyway.
 
thank you
 

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