General Catalogue of 33,342 Stars for the Epoch 1950

The General Catalogue of 33,342 Stars for the Epoch 1950 is a comprehensive list of stars, detailing their positions and movements. This work was initiated by astronomer Lewis Boss and completed by his son, Benjamin Boss.1

Star catalogs are essential tools in astronomy, providing organized lists of stars with information such as their positions and brightness. Historically, catalogs have been compiled since ancient times, with notable contributions from astronomers like Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Tycho Brahe, and John Flamsteed. Modern catalogs, such as the Henry Draper Catalogue, also include spectral types, which are crucial for classifying stars. The General Catalogue of 33,342 Stars is one such important reference, building upon earlier works and providing precise data for astronomical research.231