Is there a spatial entity (moon, planet, star, system, galaxy, cluster,..) that is identified with "A1" (or A{first_term})?
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5$\begingroup$ Not really… can you provide some context? $\endgroup$– pelaJul 28, 2021 at 13:31
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2 Answers
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The Lowell observatory gives temporary designations in the form "A-number" to objects that it studies. A1 would be a temporary designation that the Lowell observatory could give an object. For example
NGC 3603-A1 is likely the most massive binary star ever “weighed” through its orbital mass. [...] We have also produced a light curve for A1 using HST photometry, which provides a more accurate measurement of the systems inclination. Ultimately we hope to refine the masses of A1 with new observations. Source
There is an object (1) it is (1) Ceres, the dwarf planet. And 1P is Halley's comet.
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$\begingroup$ thx, know a resource to the naming conventions for celestial bodies? $\endgroup$ Jul 28, 2021 at 20:18
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$\begingroup$ The minor planet centre for official names. Wikipeida has a list of the temporary codes that various observatories conventionally give objects of study. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_astronomy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_naming_conventions $\endgroup$– James KJul 28, 2021 at 20:21
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$\begingroup$ Using MPC, I found two other entries which have "A1" in their name: C/2021 A1 (Leonard), A/2020 A1 (A/NEOWISE) [cc @user406126] $\endgroup$ Jul 30, 2021 at 11:27
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A quick check with the Simbad database shows nothing with the identifier "A1".
A search on the NASA Extragalactic Database turns up the galaxy cluster Abell 1 (or "Abell 0001", as NED puts it), which might qualify, in that people will sometimes refer to Abell clusters using just "A" + the number (e.g., "Abell 496" gets a short name of "A496"). But that's an informal practice, so I'd conclude there aren't any celestal objects with a permanent/formal name of "A1".
answered Jul 30, 2021 at 11:15