This method first appeared in John Flamsteed 's Historia Coelestis Britannica , a book that was published by Edmond Halley and Isaac Newton together in 1712 . This method of designating stars first appeared in a preliminary version of John Flamsteed 's Historia Coelestis Britannica which was published by Edmond Halley and Isaac Newton in 1712 without Flamsteed 's approval .