Custos

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

Concordance, Etymology, History

Tarandus vel Rengifer et Custom 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 discussed and adopted by the IAU WGSN in 202x. As this star is already named ..., the WGSN chose ... (not to apply/ to apply the name to a neighbouring star/ to ...) in the IAU-CSN.

Reference

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