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{{Misplaced Pages subcat guideline|notability guideline|astronomical objects|WP:NASTRO}} {{Misplaced Pages subcat guideline|notability guideline|astronomical objects|WP:NASTRO}}
{{nutshell {{nutshell
| Subjects of articles on astronomical objects are required to be notable; an astronomical object is presumed to be notable if it has received significant coverage in ] that are ]. | An astronomical object is notable if it has received significant coverage in ] that are ].
| Additional criteria may help characterize an astronomical object as notable. | Specific criteria are listed to help determine whether an astronomical object meets the notability requirement.
}} }}


{{Notabilityguide}} {{Notabilityguide}}


This guideline reflects established ] about the ] of ]s, which is required for them to be the topic of a Misplaced Pages article. It is a ] to the ], developed by ].
This guideline is meant to reflect consensus about the ] of ]s. The guideline covers all significant ], associations or structures that current ] has confirmed to exist in ]. The guideline does not cover topics relating to artificial structures in space, such as ]s, ], ]s, ]s or ]s. It also does not cover ], ], or material that has been transported to the Earth's atmosphere or surface, including ]s, ]s and ]s.


== Scope ==
Simply stated, an astronomical object is a body of matter (or collection of such bodies) that is bound together by a ], has boundaries defined by ] (e.g. voids), or is a combined grouping through viewing perspective (e.g. ]s). This includes ], ]e, ]s, ]s, individual ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s. It can also include bodies of matter that are held together by masses other than their own, such as a ], ], or ].
This guideline applies to ]s – naturally occurring ], associations, or structures that exist in ]. This includes ], ]e, ]s, ]s, individual ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s. It also includes bodies of matter that are held together by masses other than their own, such as ]s, ]s, or ]; regions defined by the ] of the ] (e.g. ]s and ]); and groups that appear solely due to Earth's viewing perspective (e.g. ]s and ]s).

It does ''not'' cover artificial objects in space (such as ]s or ]); the ] of Earth; ] (such as craters or mountains); or extraterrestrial material that has been transported to Earth (such as ]s, ]s and ]s). Nor does this guideline apply to fictional objects, such as those that appear in ]. Candidate objects or those which are the subject of serious scientific hypothesis are ].

== Establishing notability ==

On Misplaced Pages, "notable" means "worthy of notice"; it is not synonymous with "famous" or "important". Astronomical objects are notable if they have received substantial attention and coverage in ], usually the scientific literature and/or popular media. Famous astronomical objects have readily available ] information from reliable sources that indicate notability; however, more obscure objects can still be notable.

Coverage must be specific and substantial: notability is not ensured just because an object is listed in a ] or included in a large-scale ]. To establish notability, the astronomical object must have ''significant commentary'' in reliable sources, such as being one of the primary targets of a study with in-depth discussion (beyond discovery and basic parameters).

Being listed in a database does not make an object notable. Some astronomical databases and surveys, such as the ], ] or the ], list millions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?body_count|title=How Many Solar System Bodies|publisher=]|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/guide/simbad.htx|title=What is SIMBAD?|publisher=]|access-date=2021-05-10}}</ref> or billions<ref>{{cite Gaia EDR3}}</ref> of objects. Many objects listed in catalogues and databases have little information beyond their basic parameters and discovery circumstances. Misplaced Pages ] in these databases.


== Basic notability ==
=== No inherent notability === === No inherent notability ===
Notable means "worthy of being noted" or "attracting notice". It is not synonymous with "fame" or "importance". Please consider notable and demonstrable effects on culture, society, entertainment, athletics, economies, history, literature, science, or education. Major astronomical objects are likely to have more readily available ] information from ] that provide evidence of notability; however, smaller objects can be notable, and arbitrary standards should not be used to create a bias favoring prominent astronomical objects.


Notability is determined solely by coverage in reliable sources, not whether editors personally believe an astronomical object is important. Just because an astronomical object ] does not mean it is necessarily notable i.e. there is no ''inherent'' notability without coverage in reliable sources.
Even if editors personally believe an astronomical object is "important" or "inherently notable", astronomical objects are only accepted as notable if they have attracted notice in reliable sources. The fact that an astronomical object ] is by itself not enough to support notability. There exists a perennial debate on Misplaced Pages about the notability of ], with no clear consensus; it has been practice that all named geographic features (mountains, rivers, hills) are notable enough for an article. Some editors have included astronomical objects in the blanket category of geographic features, with the result being that it is acceptable for individual astronomical objects to be part of a ]. This notability guideline does not alter that practice with respect to ]. However, unlike Earth-based geographic features, arbitrary astronomical objects are unlikely to be visited or run across by a general reader of Misplaced Pages. Therefore, unless an astronomical object has significant coverage in the media or published sources, the likelihood that a general reader would choose to search Misplaced Pages for an arbitrary astronomical object is quite low. This is not a matter of ]; it is just common sense. Therefore, unlike Earth-based geographic features, the existence of an astronomical object, or even the fact that it has been named (see below) does not guarantee notability.

On Earth, ], but this is ]: the naming of a body in space (such as an asteroid) does not confer notability. It is much less likely that there are sufficient sources to write a Misplaced Pages article for an arbitrary astronomical object than an arbitrary place on Earth. For example, if a ] has received an official name from the ], that does not necessarily mean that object is notable. If an astronomical object has been named but is not notable, it could still be included in a suitable ].


=== No inherited notability === === No inherited notability ===
In the sense that an object has been discovered or observed, it may have been noted by a scientist or scientists. For the purposes of this guideline, ''notable'' means having attracted significant notice in the spirit of ]. ]. If the individual object has received no or very little notice from ], then it is not notable even though astronomical objects of its type are commonly notable. Also, just because the object is listed by name in a paper does not ensure notability. An object may be on the observation list of a large-scale survey, or a study of many objects of a specific type. Unless the astronomical object is the primary, or one of the primary, targets of a study, then such a study should not be used to support the object's notability.


For the purposes of establishing notability, coverage must be of the astronomical object itself, not other things that may be related to it. Merely being associated with another notable topic does not mean the object itself is notable, i.e. there is ].
Just because an object is listed in a database does not mean it is notable. Some databases and surveys, such as the or the ] contain , while others concern themselves with specific classes of objects and have fewer entries. Several, if not most, of the listed objects have little information beyond their physical parameters and discovery circumstances. It is not the job of Misplaced Pages to ]. Likewise, just because a minor planet has been this does not necessarily mean an object is notable. Unless the object has been the subject of ''significant study'' beyond discovery and initial parameter constraints, it probably does not warrant an article.


For example, if an object was discovered by a famous astronomer, that does not necessarily make it notable. Nor does being ] make the object itself notable. If the individual object has received insufficient coverage in ], then it is not notable even if similar objects are often notable. Moons of a notable planet are not necessarily notable, and planets of a notable star are not necessarily notable.
This guideline does not prohibit the creation or maintenance of ] which contain tables of properties and information related to astronomical objects. However, such lists are still subject to Misplaced Pages's content policies, such as ] and ].


== Criteria == == Criteria ==
{{shortcut|WP:NASTCRIT}} {{shortcut|WP:NASTCRIT}}
If an astronomical object meets ''any'' of the following criteria, supported through '']'' ], it probably qualifies for a stand-alone article. If an astronomical object meet none of these criteria, it ''may'' still be notable, provided it meets the conditions of ], though the merits of an article about an astronomical object will rest primarily on material which is verifiable through independent sources. <!-- See the '''Notes and Examples''' section below ''before applying this criterion''. --> If an astronomical object meets ''any'' of the following criteria, it is presumed notable. These criteria below are presented as ] for easily identifying astronomical objects that Misplaced Pages should probably have articles about. In almost all cases, a thorough search for ] will be successful for an astronomical objects meeting one or more of these criteria. However, meeting these criteria is not an absolute guarantee that Misplaced Pages should have a separate, stand-alone article entirely dedicated to the astronomical object.


# {{anchor|C1}} The object is, or has been, visible to the naked eye. For ordinary stars, this includes any object with an ] identifier. # {{anchor|C1}} The object is, or has been, visible to the naked eye.<ref name="nakedEyeVisible" group=note>
] varies between observers and locations. For the purpose of this guideline, it is defined as a visual magnitude of 6.0 or brighter.</ref> This includes any star in the ].
# {{anchor|C2}} The object is listed in catalogues of interest to amateur astronomers (e.g. ], ]), or a catalogue of high historical importance (e.g. ]). This is the equivalent of being listed in a "selective" database for academic journals. Being listed in comprehensive databases and surveys such as ] or ] isn't enough for notability.
# {{anchor|C2}} The object is listed in a catalogue of high historical importance (e.g. ]), or a catalogue of high interest to amateur astronomers (e.g. ]).
# {{anchor|C3}} The object has been the subject of multiple, non-trivial published works. This includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, television documentaries and articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. A single paper is not enough to establish notability for most objects. Being mentioned alongside other similar objects, such as in a table of properties of 200 newly discovered supernovae, does not constitute non-trivial coverage; the paper needs to have ''significant commentary'' on the object.
#* Being listed in comprehensive databases (e.g. ] or ]) or surveys (e.g. ] or ]) isn't enough for notability.
# {{anchor|C4}} The object was discovered before 1850, prior to the advent of stellar astrophotography or automated technology. (The first asteroid discovered photographically was ] in 1891.)
#* Though the '']'' is notable, many of the objects listed in it are not, and those titles can be redirected to a subpage of ].
# {{anchor|C3}} The object has been the subject of multiple non-trivial published works, which contain ''significant commentary'' on the object. This includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, television documentaries and articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
#* A single paper is not enough to establish notability. Being mentioned alongside other similar objects, such as in a table of properties of 200 newly discovered supernovae, does not constitute non-trivial coverage.
# {{anchor|C4}} The object was discovered before 1850, prior to the use of ] or automated technology.{{#tag:ref|The first photograph of a star (other than the Sun) was obtained in 1850.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hco.cfa.harvard.edu/facilities/GreatRefractor|title=The Great Refractor|publisher=]|access-date=2021-05-18|quote=In 1850 the first daguerreotype ever made of a star, the bright Vega, was taken by J.A. Whipple working under W.C. Bond}}</ref> The first asteroid discovered photographically was ] in 1891.|group=note}}


For the purposes of this guideline, "independent" means independent of the scientist or scientists who discovered the object, or others who may have a ] in promoting the object. The guideline does not prohibit the use of sources generated by the primary researchers, but they are not sufficient to establish notability. Whether an object meets these criteria must be established through '']'' ], following ]. This means independent of the scientist(s) who discovered the object, or others who may have a ] in promoting it. Sources generated by the discoverers may be used as references for factual information in the article, but they cannot be used to establish notability. See ].

Although some objects might qualify for a standalone article based on this guideline alone, it may still be best to create redirects to a more general article. For example, it might be best to consolidate the information about the individual planets of a ] on the article about its parent star. Whether it is best to consolidate or to have individual articles should be determined on a case-by-case basis, on the relevant article's talk page.

'''Important note:''' These criteria do not supersede ], they merely supplement and clarify it within the context of astronomical objects. If an astronomical object does not meet the ], especially if it lacks evidence of significant coverage in independent, reliable sources, then it risks being merged or redirected to an existing article, or deleted altogether.


== Failing all criteria == == Failing all criteria ==
If no criteria can be met for either a standalone article or inclusion in a more general article, and improvements have not worked or cannot be reasonably tried, then there are two deletion procedures to be considered:<ref name="wpBefore" group="lower-alpha" />
* For articles that do not meet the ], but are uncontroversial deletion candidates, use the {{tls|prod}} tag. This allows the article to be deleted after seven days if nobody objects (see ]).
* For cases where you are unsure about deletion or believe others might object, nominate the article for the ] process, where its merits will be discussed for 7 days.
When nominating an article for deletion, please place <code><nowiki>{{WikiProject Astronomy}}</nowiki></code> at the top of its talk page. This will notify ] of the deletion discussion.


=== Notable for other reasons ===
== Special cases ==
If an astronomical object meets none of these criteria, it ''could'' still be notable for other non-astronomical reasons e.g. as a literary topic. Such cases should follow the ].
=== Failing basic criteria but possibly helpful in another article or list ===

=== Inclusion in another article or list ===
{{shortcut|WP:NASTHELP}} {{shortcut|WP:NASTHELP}}
If neither a satisfying explanation nor appropriate sources can be found for a standalone article, but a few sentences about the object may help another article or list: If an astronomical object is not notable, so cannot have its own article, a few sentences about the object might be useful in another article or it could be included in a ].
* If an appropriate list already exists (e.g. a sub-list of ]), then create a ] for the object to the list. (For minor planets, see ] below.)
* Be sure to ] any appropriate information from the article into a broader article or list providing context.
* If a basic redirect is not possible, but an article exists that the information could be merged, place a {{tl|merge to}} tag on the page, indicating the page where the article may be merged. Be sure to start a section in the target article's talk page to discuss the merge.
* If no article or list currently exists into which the astronomical object can be merged, consider writing the article yourself or ] the article be written.


* Appropriate information can be ] into a broader article. Mergers should be proposed and discussed to establish consensus before being implemented. Place a {{tl|merge to}} tag on the page, indicating the page where the article may be merged, and start a section in the ''target'' article's talk page to discuss the proposed merge.
Astronomical objects that are part of a hierarchy of objects, such as a ] system, ] or a ], may be beneficially merged into the article about the system or hosting object. The criteria applied to merged article content are ] as those applied to article creation. Content coverage within such system articles is governed by the principle of ] and other ].
* If the information is more appropriate to being incorporated into an existing list (see ]), then a) ensure there is an entry for the object included in the list, adding one if necessary; and b) create a ] from the name of the object to the list. (For minor planets, see ] below.)
* If no article or list currently exists into which the astronomical object can be incorporated, consider writing one yourself or submit a ] for it. Such lists are still subject to Misplaced Pages's content policies, such as ] and ].


Astronomical objects that are part of a hierarchy of objects, such as a ] or ], can often be beneficially merged into the article about the wider system or hosting object. For example, if there are several exoplanets orbiting a single star, they could be discussed in a section of the article on the host star, rather than each planet having a separate article. Content included in a broader article is ] as stand-alone articles; instead it is governed by the principles of ] and the general ].
Only use ] as a last resort for individual articles. If an editor is dealing with a large mass of articles, then redirect or ] is more appropriate, since it is not ideal to flood AfD logs with these requests. When in doubt, bring the issue to ] for discussion.


=== Deletion ===
=== Failure to explain the subject's notability ===
If none of the criteria are met, the object isn't notable for other reasons, and there is no suitable target for a merger, deletion may be necessary. See the ] for further steps.
If an article does not explain the notability of its subject,<ref name="assertNotability" group="lower-alpha" /> try to improve it by:
* ]
* Asking for advice on the article's talk page
* Starting a discussion at ] (especially consider this if it concerns more than one or two articles)


When nominating an article for deletion (via either the ] or ] process), please place <code><nowiki>{{WikiProject Astronomy|object=yes}}</nowiki></code> at the top of its talk page, as well as any other relevant Wikiproject templates (e.g. <code><nowiki>{{WikiProject Physics}}</nowiki></code> for an object which is of particular interest to physics). This will notify ] via ] that the article is being considered for deletion. If using the AfD process, you can also tag the deletion discussion with <code><nowiki>{{subst:delsort|Astronomy|~~~~}}</nowiki></code>, which will list the discussion at ].
=== Insufficient sources ===
If an article fails to cite sufficient sources:
* Look for sources yourself.
** A good place to look for astronomical papers is the ] (ADS) . Put the name of the object(s) in quotes and place it in the subject/keyword box. Try possible variations of the object's name if your first searches don't find any papers.
** Many astronomical objects outside of the Solar System have an entry in the ] . Try a lookup of the object by identifier, then use the "display -> reference summary" in the "reference" section. These will often have a link back to ADS, which may include free copies of the articles.
** The ] () contains data for over a million objects, including entries in the ] (NGC). For each object, the data entries typically list the reference source as a bibliographic code that links back to an ADS abstract.
** When using a search engine to look for information on an object, also try passing standard abbreviations or alternate catalogue identifiers as search terms. (See ].)
* Ask for advice on where to look for sources on the article's talk page or at ].
* Put the {{tlx|notability}} tag on the article to notify other editors.


== Examples == ==Appendix==
=== Dealing with minor planets ===
{{Shortcut|WP:DWMP}}
Asteroid 182016 (1999 XF 255), listed on ] can be found on the JPL Small-Body Database Browser. However, it does not show up in searches for additional references. The asteroid exists, but up to now isn't an object that has warranted further study beyond its discovery in 1999. Placing information about this object onto the List of minor planets page is more appropriate in this circumstance than creating a stand-alone article.


=== Finding sources ===
] is another asteroid. This object has had many follow-up studies, including an observation by the ]. It is appropriate for an object like this to have a stand-alone article.
Many astronomical objects have more than one valid name or catalogue designation, see ]. When searching for sources, try using alternative identifiers or standard abbreviations e.g. 'kap Cep' or 'HR 7750' for ], or 'NGC 2392' for the ].


There are several astronomy-specific search engines which can be consulted:
If an asteroid stub is found with a notability tag on it, and a good-faith search has been done to locate supporting references, then it is appropriate to redirect the stub to the appropriate ] article. For best results, the redirect can be linked to the section containing the specific entry on the list article. For example, suppose you want to create a redirect to the section with the minor planet ''(10531) 1991 GB<sub>1</sub>'' entry on the ] article. This is found in the sub-section #501, which covers the sub-range 501–600. Hence, a redirect to that range can be created using the following statement:
* The ] (ADS) lists almost all published papers and preprints in astronomy, and many conference proceedings and textbooks too. Links are provided to the published source and any freely-available version (such as a preprint or scanned version of older sources). Put the name of the object(s) in quotes and place it in the 'abstract/keyword' box.
: <tt><nowiki>#REDIRECT]</nowiki></tt>
* The ] provides information on millions of astronomical objects outside the Solar System, including basic properties, alternative designations, and a bibliography. Coverage is best for objects within the ], with less complete coverage of extragalactic sources. Try a search by identifier, or by coordinates, then click 'display' in the 'references' section. Clicking on any of the entries will provide links to the published paper and/or the relevant ADS entry.
* The ] () contains information on extragalactic objects, for which it is more comprehensive than SIMBAD. Try a search by identifier, or by coordinates, then click on the 'references' tab. You can then either click the 'view references on ADS' button, or click on a specific reference and then 'search ADS' to go to the ADS record.


There is no equivalent to SIMBAD or NED for objects within the Solar System.<ref group=note>The ] database and the ] provide raw observations, orbital data, names and designations, but do not list all sources that mention the object or provide links to their references.</ref>
=== Objects named after famous individuals or characters ===

If an otherwise non-notable object has been named for a famous individual or mythological character, then it may be appropriate to include this information ''in the article for the individual or character'' (i.e. the notability of the asteroid is ] from its notable namesake). If the object is notable for other reasons, then of course the information may also be included in its article.
=== Mass creation ===
Per ], the systematic creation of articles on astronomical objects based on information retrieved from various astronomical databases should be discussed at ] first.

=== Hypothetical objects ===
Candidate astronomical objects, or those proposed by a serious scientific hypothesis, are notable only if they have received substantial commentary in multiple independent reliable sources, per ]. Any article about the object must explicitly state that it is hypothetical or a candidate, unless/until confirmed by multiple independent reliable sources. Care should be taken with popular media sources based upon a ] issued by the discoverer or proposer, as they might not be independent (see ]). Substantial original journalism and/or comments from independent experts are necessary to establish the notability of hypothetical or candidate objects.

=== {{anchor|Dealing with minor planets}}Dealing with minor planets ===
{{Shortcut|WP:DWMP|WP:AST2000}}
Before 2012, when this notability guideline did not yet exist, approximately 20,000 asteroid stubs were mass-created by ] and human editors. This created a considerable backlog of articles to be cleaned up, redirected, merged, or deleted. To not overly burden the community, editors should not nominate more than 10 asteroids a day to ] for discussion.

], asteroids ] below ] should be discussed before re-directing. For asteroids numbered above 2000, if an article of questionable notability is found, '''and''' a good-faith search has failed to locate references establishing notability, then it is appropriate to redirect the article to the corresponding ], keeping the original categories and {{tlf|DEFAULTSORT}} information. For best results, the redirect should use {{tl|NASTRO comment}} and target the specific entry on the list article.

For example, suppose you want to create a redirect to the minor-planet entry ''{{-r|57658&nbsp;Nilrem}}'' on the ] article. This minor planet is found at the anchor <code>#658</code> on the list page. Hence, a redirect can be created with the following content:
<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">
#REDIRECT ]

{{NASTRO comment}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nilrem}}
]
]
]
]
]
</syntaxhighlight>

The template {{tl|Anchor}} can be used to create a stable anchor point for a redirect.

=== Examples ===

==== Extrasolar planets ====
] is a ] ]. Its discovery was announced in 2012 by the ] in a paper on three new discoveries.<ref>{{cite journal|arxiv=1207.3344|title=HAT-P-39b–HAT-P-41b: Three Highly Inflated Transiting Hot Jupiters|year=2012|bibcode=2012AJ....144..139H|last1=Hartman|first1=J. D.|display-authors=etal|journal=The Astronomical Journal|volume=144|issue=5|page=139|doi=10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/139|s2cid=118457589}}</ref> It has been included in several large catalogues and databases,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exoplanet.eu/catalog/hat-p-40_b/|title=Planet HAT-P-40 b|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite simbad|title=HAT-P-40b}}</ref> and included in a list of possible targets for follow-up<ref>{{cite journal|bibcode=2016PASP..128i4401S|title=Transiting Exoplanet Studies and Community Targets for JWST's Early Release Science Program|last1=Stevenson|first1=Kevin B.|display-authors=etal|journal=]|volume=128|issue=967|page=094401|date=2016|doi=10.1088/1538-3873/128/967/094401|arxiv=1602.08389}}</ref> (where it was given the lowest priority). In 2019, it was ] 'Vytis' by ].<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Approved Names |url=https://www.nameexoworlds.iau.org/2019approved-names |website=NameExoworlds |publisher=IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach |access-date=15 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> However, {{as of|2023|lc=yes}}, none of those sources provide any significant commentary on this particular exoplanet beyond the initial discovery paper. There have been no observations by other teams of astronomers, nor has there been any coverage in the popular media. The object exists, but does not meet any of the criteria above so does not have an article on Misplaced Pages; instead it has a one-line entry in the ]. The host star (]) is not independently notable either, so also doesn't have an article.

] was discovered in 2009 by the ];<ref>{{cite journal|bibcode=2009Natur.462..891C|title=A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star|last1=Charbonneau|first1=David|display-authors=etal|journal=]|volume=462|issue=7275|page=891|date=2009|doi=10.1038/nature08679|arxiv=0912.3229}}</ref> it was one of the first known ] exoplanets. There have been numerous studies by other teams of astronomers devoted to just this object,<ref>{{cite simbad|title=G 139-21b}}</ref> several of which have been reported in the popular media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=nws&q=gj+1214b&oq=gj+1214b|website=]|title=gj 1214b}}</ref> It easily passes ], so is notable and has a stand-alone article.

==== Minor planets ====
The asteroid {{LoMP |182016 |{{mp|(182016) 1999 XF|255}} }} in the ] and ]. However, it does not appear in searches for additional references. The asteroid exists, but has received no substantial commentary, or study beyond refining its orbit. Information about this object is therefore included in the corresponding ], not a stand-alone article.

] is another asteroid. It has received multiple follow-up studies, by teams of astronomers unrelated to the discoverer, including an observation by the ]. Independent references provide substantial commentary on its shape and discussion of a possible ]. It is therefore notable and has a stand-alone article.

==== Objects named after famous individuals or characters ====
The notability of astronomical objects is ] from any famous individual or mythological character they may be named after. If a non-notable asteroid is named after a notable person or character, it may be appropriate to include this information ''in the article about the person or character''.

For example, the asteroid ] was named after ], a notable astronomer, but the asteroid does not meet the criteria above. Instead, ] redirects to {{Section link|List of minor planets: 165001–166000|347}} and the naming of the asteroid is mentioned at {{Section link|Phil Plait|Awards and honors}}. The asteroid is {{MoMP|165347|also included}} in the list article ].

If an object is notable under the criteria above, then the origin of its name should be explained in its article. An example is ], which is named after the Empress ] but is notable for other reasons.


== See also == == See also ==
Line 94: Line 135:
* ] * ]


== Notes == == Notes and references ==
{{reflist
| group = lower-alpha
| refs =


=== Notes ===
<ref name="wpBefore">
{{reflist|group=note}}
Misplaced Pages editors have been known to reject nominations for deletion that have been inadequately researched. Research should include attempts to find sources which might demonstrate notability, and/or information which would demonstrate notability in another manner.
</ref>
<ref name="assertNotability">
The text of an article should include enough information to explain why the object is notable. External arguments via a talk page or ] are not part of the article itself, and promises on those pages to provide information are not as valid as the existence of the information on the article page itself.
</ref>


=== References ===
}}
{{reflist|30em}}


]

Latest revision as of 09:36, 4 January 2025

Blue tickThis page documents an English Misplaced Pages notability guideline.
Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page.		Shortcut
This page in a nutshell:
Notability
General notability guideline
Subject-specific guidelines
See also

This guideline reflects established consensus about the notability of astronomical objects, which is required for them to be the topic of a Misplaced Pages article. It is a subject-specific supplement to the general notability guideline, developed by Wikiproject Astronomy.

Scope

This guideline applies to astronomical objects – naturally occurring physical bodies, associations, or structures that exist in outer space. This includes galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, star systems, individual stars, planets, minor planets, asteroids, comets, and moons. It also includes bodies of matter that are held together by masses other than their own, such as circumstellar discs, accretion discs, or zodiacal dust; regions defined by the large-scale structure of the Universe (e.g. galaxy filaments and cosmic voids); and groups that appear solely due to Earth's viewing perspective (e.g. asterisms and optical double stars).

It does not cover artificial objects in space (such as artificial satellites or spacecraft); the airspace of Earth; extraterrestrial geologic features (such as craters or mountains); or extraterrestrial material that has been transported to Earth (such as Moon rocks, meteor showers and meteorites). Nor does this guideline apply to fictional objects, such as those that appear in science fiction. Candidate objects or those which are the subject of serious scientific hypothesis are discussed below.

Establishing notability

On Misplaced Pages, "notable" means "worthy of notice"; it is not synonymous with "famous" or "important". Astronomical objects are notable if they have received substantial attention and coverage in reliable sources, usually the scientific literature and/or popular media. Famous astronomical objects have readily available verifiable information from reliable sources that indicate notability; however, more obscure objects can still be notable.

Coverage must be specific and substantial: notability is not ensured just because an object is listed in a scientific paper or included in a large-scale astronomical survey. To establish notability, the astronomical object must have significant commentary in reliable sources, such as being one of the primary targets of a study with in-depth discussion (beyond discovery and basic parameters).

Being listed in a database does not make an object notable. Some astronomical databases and surveys, such as the JPL Small-Body Database, SIMBAD or the Gaia catalogue, list millions or billions of objects. Many objects listed in catalogues and databases have little information beyond their basic parameters and discovery circumstances. Misplaced Pages does not duplicate content in these databases.

No inherent notability

Notability is determined solely by coverage in reliable sources, not whether editors personally believe an astronomical object is important. Just because an astronomical object exists in space does not mean it is necessarily notable i.e. there is no inherent notability without coverage in reliable sources.

On Earth, many named places are considered notable, but this is not true for astronomical objects: the naming of a body in space (such as an asteroid) does not confer notability. It is much less likely that there are sufficient sources to write a Misplaced Pages article for an arbitrary astronomical object than an arbitrary place on Earth. For example, if a minor planet has received an official name from the Committee for Small Body Nomenclature, that does not necessarily mean that object is notable. If an astronomical object has been named but is not notable, it could still be included in a suitable list of similar objects.

No inherited notability

For the purposes of establishing notability, coverage must be of the astronomical object itself, not other things that may be related to it. Merely being associated with another notable topic does not mean the object itself is notable, i.e. there is no inherited notability.

For example, if an object was discovered by a famous astronomer, that does not necessarily make it notable. Nor does being named after something notable make the object itself notable. If the individual object has received insufficient coverage in independent sources, then it is not notable even if similar objects are often notable. Moons of a notable planet are not necessarily notable, and planets of a notable star are not necessarily notable.

Criteria

Shortcut

If an astronomical object meets any of the following criteria, it is presumed notable. These criteria below are presented as rules of thumb for easily identifying astronomical objects that Misplaced Pages should probably have articles about. In almost all cases, a thorough search for independent, third-party reliable sources will be successful for an astronomical objects meeting one or more of these criteria. However, meeting these criteria is not an absolute guarantee that Misplaced Pages should have a separate, stand-alone article entirely dedicated to the astronomical object.

  1. The object is, or has been, visible to the naked eye. This includes any star in the HR catalogue.
  2. The object is listed in a catalogue of high historical importance (e.g. Messier catalogue), or a catalogue of high interest to amateur astronomers (e.g. Caldwell catalogue).
  3. The object has been the subject of multiple non-trivial published works, which contain significant commentary on the object. This includes published works in all forms, such as newspaper articles, books, television documentaries and articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
    • A single paper is not enough to establish notability. Being mentioned alongside other similar objects, such as in a table of properties of 200 newly discovered supernovae, does not constitute non-trivial coverage.
  4. The object was discovered before 1850, prior to the use of astrophotography or automated technology.

Whether an object meets these criteria must be established through independent reliable sources, following WP:NRV. This means independent of the scientist(s) who discovered the object, or others who may have a conflict of interest in promoting it. Sources generated by the discoverers may be used as references for factual information in the article, but they cannot be used to establish notability. See guidance below on finding sources.

Failing all criteria

Notable for other reasons

If an astronomical object meets none of these criteria, it could still be notable for other non-astronomical reasons e.g. as a literary topic. Such cases should follow the general notability guideline.

Inclusion in another article or list

Shortcut

If an astronomical object is not notable, so cannot have its own article, a few sentences about the object might be useful in another article or it could be included in a list.

  • Appropriate information can be merged into a broader article. Mergers should be proposed and discussed to establish consensus before being implemented. Place a {{merge to}} tag on the page, indicating the page where the article may be merged, and start a section in the target article's talk page to discuss the proposed merge.
  • If the information is more appropriate to being incorporated into an existing list (see lists of astronomical objects), then a) ensure there is an entry for the object included in the list, adding one if necessary; and b) create a redirect from the name of the object to the list. (For minor planets, see dealing with minor planets below.)
  • If no article or list currently exists into which the astronomical object can be incorporated, consider writing one yourself or submit a request for it. Such lists are still subject to Misplaced Pages's content policies, such as verifiability and no original research.

Astronomical objects that are part of a hierarchy of objects, such as a planetary system or star system, can often be beneficially merged into the article about the wider system or hosting object. For example, if there are several exoplanets orbiting a single star, they could be discussed in a section of the article on the host star, rather than each planet having a separate article. Content included in a broader article is not subject to the same notability criteria as stand-alone articles; instead it is governed by the principles of due weight and the general content policies.

Deletion

If none of the criteria are met, the object isn't notable for other reasons, and there is no suitable target for a merger, deletion may be necessary. See the deletion policy for further steps.

When nominating an article for deletion (via either the PROD or AfD process), please place {{WikiProject Astronomy|object=yes}} at the top of its talk page, as well as any other relevant Wikiproject templates (e.g. {{WikiProject Physics}} for an object which is of particular interest to physics). This will notify WikiProject Astronomy via WP:AALERTS that the article is being considered for deletion. If using the AfD process, you can also tag the deletion discussion with {{subst:delsort|Astronomy|~~~~}}, which will list the discussion at Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Deletion sorting/Astronomy.

Appendix

Finding sources

Many astronomical objects have more than one valid name or catalogue designation, see astronomical naming conventions. When searching for sources, try using alternative identifiers or standard abbreviations e.g. 'kap Cep' or 'HR 7750' for Kappa Cephei, or 'NGC 2392' for the Eskimo Nebula.

There are several astronomy-specific search engines which can be consulted:

  • The Astrophysics Data System (ADS) abstract service lists almost all published papers and preprints in astronomy, and many conference proceedings and textbooks too. Links are provided to the published source and any freely-available version (such as a preprint or scanned version of older sources). Put the name of the object(s) in quotes and place it in the 'abstract/keyword' box.
  • The SIMBAD database provides information on millions of astronomical objects outside the Solar System, including basic properties, alternative designations, and a bibliography. Coverage is best for objects within the Milky Way, with less complete coverage of extragalactic sources. Try a search by identifier, or by coordinates, then click 'display' in the 'references' section. Clicking on any of the entries will provide links to the published paper and/or the relevant ADS entry.
  • The NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) contains information on extragalactic objects, for which it is more comprehensive than SIMBAD. Try a search by identifier, or by coordinates, then click on the 'references' tab. You can then either click the 'view references on ADS' button, or click on a specific reference and then 'search ADS' to go to the ADS record.

There is no equivalent to SIMBAD or NED for objects within the Solar System.

Mass creation

Per WP:MASSCREATION, the systematic creation of articles on astronomical objects based on information retrieved from various astronomical databases should be discussed at WT:ASTRO first.

Hypothetical objects

Candidate astronomical objects, or those proposed by a serious scientific hypothesis, are notable only if they have received substantial commentary in multiple independent reliable sources, per criterion 3. Any article about the object must explicitly state that it is hypothetical or a candidate, unless/until confirmed by multiple independent reliable sources. Care should be taken with popular media sources based upon a press release issued by the discoverer or proposer, as they might not be independent (see churnalism). Substantial original journalism and/or comments from independent experts are necessary to establish the notability of hypothetical or candidate objects.

Dealing with minor planets

Shortcuts

Before 2012, when this notability guideline did not yet exist, approximately 20,000 asteroid stubs were mass-created by bots and human editors. This created a considerable backlog of articles to be cleaned up, redirected, merged, or deleted. To not overly burden the community, editors should not nominate more than 10 asteroids a day to AfD for discussion.

By consensus, asteroids numbered below 2000 should be discussed before re-directing. For asteroids numbered above 2000, if an article of questionable notability is found, and a good-faith search has failed to locate references establishing notability, then it is appropriate to redirect the article to the corresponding list of minor planets, keeping the original categories and {{DEFAULTSORT}} information. For best results, the redirect should use {{NASTRO comment}} and target the specific entry on the list article.

For example, suppose you want to create a redirect to the minor-planet entry 57658 Nilrem on the List of minor planets: 57001–58000 article. This minor planet is found at the anchor #658 on the list page. Hence, a redirect can be created with the following content: 

#REDIRECT ]
{{NASTRO comment}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nilrem}}
]
]
]
]
]

The template {{Anchor}} can be used to create a stable anchor point for a redirect.

Examples

Extrasolar planets

HAT-P-40 b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet. Its discovery was announced in 2012 by the HATNet Project in a paper on three new discoveries. It has been included in several large catalogues and databases, and included in a list of possible targets for follow-up (where it was given the lowest priority). In 2019, it was assigned the proper name 'Vytis' by NameExoWorlds. However, as of 2023, none of those sources provide any significant commentary on this particular exoplanet beyond the initial discovery paper. There have been no observations by other teams of astronomers, nor has there been any coverage in the popular media. The object exists, but does not meet any of the criteria above so does not have an article on Misplaced Pages; instead it has a one-line entry in the List of exoplanets discovered in 2012. The host star (TYC 3607-1028-1) is not independently notable either, so also doesn't have an article.

Gliese 1214 b was discovered in 2009 by the MEarth Project; it was one of the first known super Earth exoplanets. There have been numerous studies by other teams of astronomers devoted to just this object, several of which have been reported in the popular media. It easily passes the third criterion, so is notable and has a stand-alone article.

Minor planets

The asteroid (182016) 1999 XF255 is listed in the JPL Small-Body Database and by the Minor Planet Center. However, it does not appear in searches for additional references. The asteroid exists, but has received no substantial commentary, or study beyond refining its orbit. Information about this object is therefore included in the corresponding list of minor planets, not a stand-alone article.

532 Herculina is another asteroid. It has received multiple follow-up studies, by teams of astronomers unrelated to the discoverer, including an observation by the Hubble Space Telescope. Independent references provide substantial commentary on its shape and discussion of a possible asteroid moon. It is therefore notable and has a stand-alone article.

Objects named after famous individuals or characters

The notability of astronomical objects is not inherited from any famous individual or mythological character they may be named after. If a non-notable asteroid is named after a notable person or character, it may be appropriate to include this information in the article about the person or character.

For example, the asteroid 165347 Philplait was named after Phil Plait, a notable astronomer, but the asteroid does not meet the criteria above. Instead, 165347 Philplait redirects to List of minor planets: 165001–166000 § 347 and the naming of the asteroid is mentioned at Phil Plait § Awards and honors. The asteroid is also included in the list article meanings of minor planet names.

If an object is notable under the criteria above, then the origin of its name should be explained in its article. An example is 45 Eugenia, which is named after the Empress Eugénie de Montijo but is notable for other reasons.

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. Naked eye visibility varies between observers and locations. For the purpose of this guideline, it is defined as a visual magnitude of 6.0 or brighter.
  2. The first photograph of a star (other than the Sun) was obtained in 1850. The first asteroid discovered photographically was 323 Brucia in 1891.
  3. The Minor Planet Center database and the JPL Small Body Database provide raw observations, orbital data, names and designations, but do not list all sources that mention the object or provide links to their references.

References

  1. "How Many Solar System Bodies". JPL Small-Body Database. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  2. "What is SIMBAD?". Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  3. Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2021). "Gaia Early Data Release 3: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 649: A1. arXiv:2012.01533. Bibcode:2021A&A...649A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657. S2CID 227254300. (Erratum: doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657e).
  4. "The Great Refractor". Harvard College Observatory. Retrieved 2021-05-18. In 1850 the first daguerreotype ever made of a star, the bright Vega, was taken by J.A. Whipple working under W.C. Bond
  5. Hartman, J. D.; et al. (2012). "HAT-P-39b–HAT-P-41b: Three Highly Inflated Transiting Hot Jupiters". The Astronomical Journal. 144 (5): 139. arXiv:1207.3344. Bibcode:2012AJ....144..139H. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/139. S2CID 118457589.
  6. "Planet HAT-P-40 b". Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia.
  7. "HAT-P-40b". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
  8. Stevenson, Kevin B.; et al. (2016). "Transiting Exoplanet Studies and Community Targets for JWST's Early Release Science Program". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 128 (967): 094401. arXiv:1602.08389. Bibcode:2016PASP..128i4401S. doi:10.1088/1538-3873/128/967/094401.
  9. "2019 Approved Names". NameExoworlds. IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  10. Charbonneau, David; et al. (2009). "A super-Earth transiting a nearby low-mass star". Nature. 462 (7275): 891. arXiv:0912.3229. Bibcode:2009Natur.462..891C. doi:10.1038/nature08679.
  11. "G 139-21b". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
  12. "gj 1214b". Google News.
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