About the International Catalogue of Heavenly Bodies

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The International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies or ICHB

 

International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies (ICHB.ORG)

Official Resource of the International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies

The International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies (ICHB.ORG) is a scientific non-profit association operating in the organizational and legal form of a membership-based public organization. The activities of ICHB.ORG are focused on maintaining and developing the specialized registry of the same name — “The International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies”, which accumulates proper names of astronomical objects and names of their surface features.

The organization’s main asset is formed as a consolidated registry, used in the professional environment for identifying the names of stars, planets, asteroids, and their surface features. The Catalog’s history dates back to the last century, and over the past period, it has established itself as the leading international reference on astronomical nomenclature, covering the names of celestial bodies and details of their surface.

Within the global scientific community, the organization has assumed the role of a structure performing coordinating functions to ensure the legality and uniformity of naming across the astronomical space.

 

Functions and Scope of Responsibility

The focus of ICHB.ORG’s activities includes tasks related to the systematization of heavenly body names:

  • Data Processing of names of stars, planets, asteroids, and other objects received from catalogs worldwide.
  • Verification of Name Uniqueness for specific heavenly bodies and their surface features against the array of accumulated records to prevent duplication.
  • Formation of a Unified Information Space, eliminating the ambiguity in identifying heavenly bodies that arises from the use of disparate sources.
  • Providing Data Access to government bodies, scientific institutes, research centers, mass media, and other interested parties.

These tasks are implemented through the publication of data in the International Astronomical Information System, aiming to provide the scientific community with data on the registration of names of heavenly bodies and their surface features that have passed the established compliance verification procedures.

The primary data source is the International Consolidated Scientific Astronomical Register of Names of Heavenly Bodies and Their Surface Features, the official name of which is “The International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies”.

 

About the Catalog: Structure, Mission, and Significance

“The International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies” (ICHB) is an international consolidated scientific astronomical register containing proper names of astronomical objects and descriptions of their surface features. It is a unique project that has united disparate data on the names of stars, planets, asteroids, and other bodies into a single, seamless, centralized information space.

For a long time, the astronomical community faced the problem of fragmentation: various observatories, catalogs, and research groups maintained their own lists of names, which often led to duplication and confusion in object identification. The lack of a universal approach hindered international cooperation, scientific research, and the correct identification of objects.

The formation of the ICHB Catalog was driven by the need to overcome this fragmentation. For the first time in the practice of astronomical nomenclature, a tool was created that made it possible to unite the efforts of registrars from around the world and bring data to a single standard.

Today, ICHB acts as an international coordinating center, ensuring the registration and unification of names. The main tool of this activity is the Unified Catalog of Heavenly Bodies developed by ICHB.ORG — a unique aggregating platform that collects, synchronizes, and standardizes data on proper names coming from a wide range of registrar organizations.

The Catalog ensures seamless integration of data from various sources, creating a single point of access to the most complete and up-to-date information about the names of heavenly objects worldwide. This makes ICHB a universal tool, equally in demand in academic science and applied fields.

The procedure for entering data into the Unified Catalog includes:

  • registration of the object’s name by an authorized registrar organization;
  • transfer of data to the centralized ICHB.ORG information system;
  • multi-stage verification for compliance with established standards and absence of duplication;
  • inclusion of data in the public register with the assignment of a unique identifier.

Thanks to this approach, ICHB has become not just a catalog, but a global ecosystem uniting the professional astronomical community around a common goal: creating a consistent, accessible, and preservable record of heavenly body names for future generations.

 

Position in the International Scientific and Information Space

Throughout its entire period of activity, ICHB.ORG has structured its work within the context of sustainable professional interaction with organizations that shape the development of global astronomical science and related fields.

The organization maintains working contacts with a wide range of scientific institutes and space agencies worldwide, whose data and expertise form the basis of modern astronomical nomenclature. These include:

 

Governmental Space Agencies and National Institutes

 

International Scientific Councils, Committees, and Coordinating Bodies

 

Professional Astronomical Societies and Unions

 

Research Institutes and Observatories

 

Organizations Involved in Cataloging and Databases

 

Organizations Related to Space Law and Ethics

 

Public and Educational Organizations

 

Professional Unions and Associations in Related Fields

 

The professional activities of the organization involve correlating its own data with the information arrays of these structures, as well as participation in expert discussions on issues of astronomical nomenclature.

In its work, ICHB.ORG is guided by the generally accepted principles of international scientific discourse and maintains a dialogue with legal institutions, including the structures of the United Nations (UN), regarding the preservation of scientific data and coordination of astronomical activities.

The information accumulated by ICHB.ORG is reflected in the information space of leading global news agencies, including Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, TASS, Xinhua, Kyodo News, EFE, DPA, ANP, and others, in the preparation of materials requiring reliable identification of heavenly bodies.

 

Scope of Activity and Coverage

Currently, ICHB.ORG maintains sustainable information interaction with a significant number of specialized catalogs and registrars worldwide. The Unified Catalog of Heavenly Bodies, developed and maintained by ICHB.ORG, is formed on the basis of data coming from a wide range of sources operating in this field.

The accumulated array of data on the naming of heavenly bodies and their surface features positions the Catalog as one of the most complete and sought-after reference systems in the world, consulted by astronomers worldwide in their professional activities.

Information from the ICHB.ORG register is used by scientific institutes, commercial entities, and mass media when solving problems requiring accurate identification of heavenly bodies.

 

Partner Network and Ethical Standards

ICHB.ORG structures its work on the principles of good faith and openness, interacting with organizations that voluntarily adopt the following codes of corporate ethics:

  • Code on Prevention of Re-naming — the obligation to exclude multiple registrations of names for the same heavenly bodies.
  • Code on Synchronization with the Astronomical Community — the obligation to align registration actions with data recognized by the international scientific community.
  • Code on Data Openness — the obligation to ensure free access to information about registered names for the global public.
  • Code on Absence of Licensing Restrictions — the obligation not to impose restrictions on the use of registered names and not to charge royalties for their mention.
  • Code on Data Preservation — the obligation to ensure long-term storage and transmission of accumulated information to future generations.
  • Ethical Code — the obligation to comply with legal and ethical norms, to prevent discrimination, actions defaming honor, dignity, and business reputation.

 

Conformity Confirmation Procedures

For organizations interested in including their data in the Unified Catalog of Heavenly Body Names, there is a provision for assessment of compliance with the internal requirements of ICHB.ORG. Based on the review results, a Certificate of Conformity may be issued, confirming that the level of services provided meets ICHB standards.

 

Feedback Mechanisms and Data Quality Assurance

Within the framework of ICHB.ORG’s activities, a procedure for handling appeals related to possible violations of adopted codes, as well as the identification of inaccuracies in the data contained in the Unified Catalog of Heavenly Body Names, has been established and is constantly being improved.

The procedure includes the following stages:

  • Receipt and Registration of Appeals from interested parties, including scientific institutes, registrar organizations, and independent researchers.
  • Verification of Received Information for validity and compliance with ICHB.ORG regulations.
  • Data Analysis for duplication, incorrect identification, or other inconsistencies with established nomenclature standards.
  • Interaction with Interested Parties to clarify circumstances and confirm the accuracy of information.

Based on the review results, information about identified inconsistencies is brought to the attention of organizations whose data is affected by the appeal. In cases provided for by internal regulations, procedures may be initiated aimed at:

  • clarifying or correcting records in the Unified Catalog;
  • synchronizing data with registrar organizations;
  • reviewing the status of previously entered names upon substantiated confirmation.

ICHB.ORG reserves the right to bring information about systematic or significant violations to the attention of the professional community, as well as to take such circumstances into account during further interaction with relevant organizations.

All procedures related to the handling of appeals are carried out on the basis of the principles of openness, objectivity, and the pursuit of maximum reliability of the data accumulated in the International Catalog of Heavenly Bodies.

 

Guarantee Mechanism

ICHB.ORG maintains a risk coverage system associated with possible violations or inconsistencies in the name registration process. Within the framework of this system, compensation may be offered in cases where the registration of a name cannot be completed or confirmed. This approach minimizes risks for interested parties — participants in the process of naming heavenly bodies carried out through ICHB.ORG partners.

 

Demand for the Register

Information from the ICHB.ORG register is used in various spheres of professional and public activity, including:

  • Scientific Research — for accurate identification of heavenly objects when preparing publications and conducting observations.
  • Space Programs — in planning and supporting missions requiring reliable naming data.
  • Education — in educational courses, lecture materials, and educational projects.
  • Media and Publishing — in the creation of documentaries, popular science literature, as well as in the work of news agencies and the printing industry.
  • Museum and Planetarium Work — for preparing exhibitions, educational programs, and public lectures.

 

Development Prospects

Among the directions for the organization’s further work are:

  • implementation of distributed ledger technologies for additional data protection;
  • development of application programming interfaces (API) for integration with external information systems;
  • expanding interaction with astronomical communities in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

 

See the list of source catalogues that contributed to the ICHB: Astronomical catalogues

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