Space exploration began with the launch of Sputnik and Astrophysics was born as the application of physics to the phenomena observed by Astronomy, which etymologically means laws of the stars.
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| Bayer Letters |
The letters of the Greek alphabet, used in conjunction with constellation names as in Alpha Leonis, to identify the brighter stars. Johann Bayer 1572-1625 was responsible for compiling the first complete star atlas, called Uranometria, which was published in 1603. In it he introduced the system of naming the brighter stars in each constellation by Greek letters, which he allocated approximately according to brightness or, in some instances, in order of position on the sky. The system was rapidly adopted and is still in use today
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