Historical event · 1919 CE

Founding of the International Astronomical Union

History of Astronomy

What happened

The International Astronomical Union was founded in 1919 to coordinate astronomy worldwide. It is the authority that defines constellation boundaries, names celestial bodies and surface features, and — in 2006 — set the definition of a planet.

Knowledge connections

Part ofModern Astronomy

Sources & references

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

IAUInternational Astronomical Union
Official naming, definitions, constellation boundaries, and astronomical nomenclature.

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