survey-based designator

Astronomical objects are often designated by a catalog indicator (an abbreviation) followed either by a number, sometimes indicating the order of discovery, or by a J designator indicating position within the celestial sphere. Each survey, or discovery mission/project in effect produces a catalog, for which these indicators of its discovered objects reveal the mission that found them. See examples in the "Catalogs/Surveys table".

Extra-solar planet designations are generally are built on the star's designation, which are often in this form. An additional final lower-case letter, e.g., b, c, etc., indicates one of its planets. Multi-star systems similarly use a star designation with an additional final upper-case letter, A, B, etc., to indicate which star.