Stars typically get catalog numbers, so-called designators. The IAU-Working Group on Star Names is the scientific body in charge of global nomenclature of stars. It was established in 2015 and started work in 2016 under leadership of NASA astrophysicist Eric Mamajek. In 2021, Susanne M Hoffmann was elected chair of the working group and started building electronic information material under our domain https://exopla.net that has been used as a repository for educational material since 2005.
This domain name is particularly meaningful for the IAU-WGSN because it convays the reminder that the modern star name initiative comes from the IAU-outreach event of NameExoWorlds Campaigns (NEWCs) which were meant to engage with the public. The new current work mode of WGSN, in contrast, focusses on the traditional names of stars and constellations in all cultures all over the Earth.
Stiftung FNJE supports IAU-WGSN by paying the hosting fee for their website exopla.net, hoping for (partial or full) reimbursement by the IAU.
