Amagama nezimpawunani zezinkanyezi
Kumchazamkhathi izinkanyezi zinezinhlobo ezahlukene zezimpawunani namagama ezinkanyezi, okuhlanganisa amagama ezijengamagama, namagama angempela amanje nawomlando, kanye namagama ezilimi zakwamanye amazwe.
Zimbalwa kakhulu izinkanyezi ezaziwayo ezinamagama azo angempela: zonke ezinye zivame ukunikwa izimpawu ezithile ngokwezijengamazwi noma izinhlu ezihlukene, ezinye azinabo ubuhlonzi nhlobo. UHipparkhusi wangekhulu lesiili BC wabala izinkanyezi ezibonwa ngeso lenyama ezingama-850. UJohann Bayer yena wabhlal uhlu oluphinda lelo nani kabili ngowe-1603. Izijengamazwi zezinhlu zezinkanyezi ezibonwa ngeso lenyama zaqala ukuvela ekhulwini le-19. Isijengamazwi sezinkanyezi eziqhakazayo The Bright Star Catalogue, siveza zonke izinkanyezi ezinenkazimulo ebonwayo eyisi- 6.5 oma ngaphezulu, noma izinkanyezi ezibonwa ngso lenyama kumuntu oseMhlabeni, siqukethe izinkanyezi eziyizi-9,096. Isijengamazwi sanamuhla esikhulu sinohlu lwezinkanyezi eziyisigidinqindi (billoin) zezinkanyezi eziyizigidinqindi ezingama-400 zomzilafasimbe.
Amagama oqobo ezinkanyezi amaningi esiNgisi, avela olimini lwesi-Arabhu noma isiShayina. Amanye ajotshelelwa kusuka ngeMinyaka ephakathi futhi amanye ajotshelelwa ezikhathini zanamuhla. Amagama esiZulu ezinkanyezi aziwayo alishumi nesithupha, ayelokhu ekhona kusuka endulo kwaze kwalaba ilapho uNgomangwe Buthelezi eshicilela uhlu lwamagama ezinkanyezi esiZulu andisiwe ezinkundleni zokuxhumana.
Inhlangano Yezomkhathi Yomhlaba (IAU) iyona ebhekele izindaba zokuvamisa amagama ezinkanyezi eziqhakaza kakhulu nalezo ezidumileyo. Le nhlangano lapho ngegama isuke ibhekisela egameni lonobumba elizosetshenziswa nsukuzonke lenknayezi, bese kuthi lapho ikhuluma "ngophawunani isuke isho unobumbanani osetshenziswa ngokukhethekile lapho kwenziwa izijengamazwi zobungcwepheshi bomchazamkhathi. Iningi lamagama nezimpawunani okusetshenziswa namuhla zandulela ukubunjwa kwale nhlangano. Kujotshelelwa izimpawunani ezintsha ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ngonyaka wezi-2009 le nhlangano yayisinqume ukwetha amagama oqobo ayizi-300, iningi awezinkanyezi eziqhakazayo ezibonwa geso lenyama.