Names of Stars and Galaxies in Battlestar Galactica

In Battlestar Galactica, the names of stars and galaxies are part of the series’ fictional universe. They help convey its cosmic scale, but they are not a catalog of real objects.

Which celestial names appear in the series, and what do they refer to? Let’s look at the names of stars and galaxies in Battlestar Galactica and distinguish them from astronomical objects that exist beyond the story on screen.

• 110 selected objects limit corrected in the Stellarium Mobile update

What do the names in Battlestar Galactica mean?

The names in Battlestar Galactica evoke mythological and religious imagery, but on their own they do not point to real stars or galaxies.

Kobol is the name of a planet in the series; in a particular theological context, it is interpreted as “earth and man.” Commander Adama’s surname is also connected with the earth: in Hebrew, it means “earth.”

These meanings reveal a symbolic layer to the names, not their astronomical status. The etymology of the surname Adama does not prove that the character was named after a real celestial body; independent information about a specific object would be needed for that.

Which names evoke constellations?

Caprica, Scorpia, and Aquaria evoke constellations: they correspond to the English names Capricorn, Scorpio, and Aquarius.

• Caprica recalls Capricorn.
• Scorpia corresponds to Scorpio.
• Aquaria evokes Aquarius.

Apollo, Cassiopeia, and Athena also appear among the names of characters and call signs. These names broaden the series’ astronomical and mythological associations, but in the list above, only the three names already mentioned directly correspond to constellations.

Does a constellation name mean that a star or galaxy is real?

No: a star or galaxy having a name similar to that of a constellation suggests an allusion, but does not prove that it refers to a specific real object.

A constellation is an area of the celestial sphere with defined boundaries. A star and a galaxy are individual astronomical objects, so sharing a name does not make them a constellation or part of one.

How to check a name

Look up the exact name in a star catalog and check what type of object it identifies. The Russian Astronomical Network notes that a catalog can contain information about a celestial body named by you or in your honor. A match with a constellation’s name is not a substitute for this check.

How do you check names in Stellarium Mobile?

You can check a name in Stellarium Mobile by looking at the object’s label and type: the app shows whether it is identified as a star, galaxy, or constellation.

Compare the spelling with the English name. Translations and transliterations may differ: for example, Scorpio is «Scorpion» in Russian, while Aquarius is «Aquarius». If the name is different, check whether it is associated with a constellation.

What to consider when checking

• Object type. Make sure the label refers to the specific star, galaxy, or constellation you are looking for.
• Name variant. Compare the Russian label with the English name, taking translation and transliteration into account.
• App version. Stellarium Mobile was created by the original creator of Stellarium, an open-source desktop planetarium. In-app purchases in Stellarium Mobile let you upgrade to Stellarium Plus.

How do the names in the series differ from galaxy names in No Man’s Sky?

In Battlestar Galactica, names evoke mythology, constellations, and other imagery, while in No Man’s Sky, the names of most galaxies are created by a procedural algorithm.

In the series, the names are an artistic choice: Caprica, Scorpia, and Aquaria recall the constellations Capricorn, Scorpio, and Aquarius; Apollo, Cassiopeia, and Athena appear alongside them. Kobol and the surname Adama are also associated with the idea of earth.

How names work in No Man’s Sky

• The first five galaxies were given names chosen by the developers.
• The other galaxies are named procedurally, meaning their names are generated by the game’s algorithm.

So a galaxy’s name in No Man’s Sky is part of the game world, not a confirmed name for an object in astronomical catalogs. A real galaxy must be identified using astronomical data, not by its in-game name alone.

What limitations are important to keep in mind when checking?

Checking the names of stars and galaxies requires matching the exact form of a name: a similarity to a mythological word or constellation name does not, by itself, confirm that such a celestial object exists.

• Constellation or character. A name resembling Capricorn, Scorpio, Aquarius, or the name of a mythological figure may have been borrowed from another context. Look for confirmation that it is specifically a star or galaxy.
• Spelling. Translation, transliteration, and different spelling variants can make a name difficult to find. Check the original form of the name, not only its Russian spelling.

The limit of 110 selected objects was corrected in a Stellarium Mobile update. This change concerns how the app works and does not confirm the existence of an object with the selected name.

According to Noctua Software Ltd’s description, app data may be processed in accordance with its privacy policy; check its terms before using the app.

What counts as confirmation of a real astronomical object?

A real astronomical object is confirmed by an exact match between its name and a record in a star catalog, along with the object type given there.

Names in Battlestar Galactica may evoke constellations: for example, Scorpia evokes Scorpio, and Aquaria evokes Aquarius. This association alone does not prove that the name identifies a particular star or galaxy.

• Find the exact record. Search for the name in a star catalog, not only among characters, planets, and other names from the series.
• Check the object type. The catalog should indicate whether the entry is a star, galaxy, constellation, or another celestial body.
• Check the spelling. A fictional translation may change the form of a name; compare variants rather than relying only on how it sounds in Russian.

If the catalog record does not let you link the name unambiguously to an object, do not treat a similarity in sound as confirmation: check other spelling variants and the record’s object type.