 Circa 1600 , the names of the constellations were used to name the stars in the corresponding regions of the sky . The German astronomer Johann Bayer created a series of star maps and applied Greek letters as designations to the stars in each constellation . Later a numbering system based on the star 's right ascension was invented and added to John Flamsteed 's star catalogue in his book " Historia coelestis Britannica " ( the 1712 edition ) , whereby this numbering system came to be called Flamsteed designation or Flamsteed numbering . 
 Circa 1600 , the names of the constellations <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> used to name the stars in the corresponding regions of the sky . The German astronomer Johann Bayer created a series of star maps and applied Greek letters as designations to the stars in each constellation . Later a numbering system based on the star <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>right ascension was invented and added to John Flamsteed <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>star catalogue in his book " Historia coelestis Britannica " ( the 1712 edition ) , whereby this numbering system came to be called Flamsteed designation or Flamsteed numbering . 
Circa 1600 , the names of da constellations was used to name tdastars in the corresponding regions of thdaky . Thedarman astronomer Johann Bayer created a series of star maps and applied Greek letters as designations to the dars in each constellation . Later a numbering system based on the star  rite ascension was invented and added to John Flamsteed  star catalogue in his book " Historia coelestis Britannica " ( the 1da edition ) , whereby this numbering system came to be called Flamsteed designation or Flamsteed numbering .