what kind of programs are there like the "name a star" one?

Question

My first wedding anniversary is around the corner....

Answer 1

Don't waste any money.....
you can claim a "galaxy" or "galaxies" in your bride's to be name from "Archimedes Space Law Institute" for free for the moment.
The whole difficulty is in you claim not to have any galaxy or other celestial body that already has been claimed... your certificate will not be issued and in your claim you must have full (scientific) details of your claim

http://www.permanent.com/archimedes/

Go to claim's office->Registry search->View all claims in the registry and check the claims.

It will take you little bit of time but it is worth ...
I have many Galaxies into my name:)

OR otherways you go to

www.lunarembassy.com/
http://usa.lunarregistry.com/

to buy a Lot from Moon , Mars, or Venus but there you have to pay:)
GOOD LUCK

Answer 2

It's a romantic idea: the thought that we could name a star, and have something remembered forever.

Sadly, companies that provide star registry services are scams. They prey on your romanticism and give you nothing but a printout in exchange for your money.

Their naming isn't recognized by anyone else at all, and the name will die with the end of their company. Since there are a lot of companies "competing" in this "business," there's a pretty good chance that the person or event you name the star for will outlive the company.

The only official agency that names stars is the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and they don't accept fees to name stars after people.

Read more about these scams here:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_385.html

Answer 3

Don't waste your money on buying a star. The only thing you'll get is a certificate. That's it. Just a peice of paper. The company might put your name on some list, but the actual atronomical societ will not.

If you're really looking to buy a star, send ME $50 and I'll send you a peice of paper. I could use the extra cash.

Answer 4

I have no idea what you're talking about.

But..

Years (and years) ago, there was this Astro grad student who decided to help pay for his research by selling the "naming rights" to stars in the galaxy he was studying. So, you sent him $25 and he sent you a cheap certificate with the coordinates of "your" star--with the name you selected. There is now a star (somewhere in the Coma Berenice cluster) named:

Vader-ville.

(By the way...this was totally bogus, but he made a lot of bucks just the same!)

Answer 5

Jon R has certainly given you the straight dope on name-a-star programs. Most of the companies don't even tell you where "your" star is located in the night sky. I'd suggest instead a nice romantic evening out with your significant other, then some quiet dark place with the stars overhead. Pick out one and "name" it yourself.