Custos

The modern IAU-star name "Custos" resembles the obsolete Early Modern constellation Custos Messium, the Harvest Keeper.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Rangifer et Custos Messium (Bode 1801).

Custos Messium, the Harvest Keeper, was a constellation invented in Early Modern Time by the French astronomer Joseph Jérôme de Lalande (1732–1807) who might have punned with the name of his compatriot Charles Messier. Some European astronomers copied and translated it, though. The constellation became obsolete in the depolitisation of the IAU-sky and WGSN only resembles the Keeper, Custos.

IAU Working Group on Star Names

The name was suggested to the IAU WGSN in 2023. It was adopted to the IAU-CSN in December 2025 for the star BE Cam (HIP 17884) in Camelopardalis.

Reference

• References (general)
• References (early modern)
• Ian Ridpath's website (Star Tales )