I read on a FAQ website it isn't possible to officially name a star? I think it is way cool but don't want to waste my money on these websites that sell you the "idea" of buying a star. Does anyone know if NASA or a similar international company sponsers these websites?
2007-11-28 12:37:12 · 11 answers · asked by firelillyz 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Correct, there is no OFFICIAL way to have a star named after anyone. There are of course many unofficial means - some scams, some fund raising initiatives by observatories - but none are official.
There are, however, Official means to have other celestial bodies named after you (ie Comets, Asteroids) BUT you needed to either discover them or have impacted a discoverer in some way to have them name it after you. (I have one named after me - Asteroid 33750)
2007-11-28 12:45:25 · answer #1 · answered by The Lazy Astronomer 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
theres starregistry.com. i would advice not doing it though. the star is only recognized by them, no one else only that small company. on their site they admit that they arent actually selling you the star since they do not own it. no person or country can own anything in space.
so if u want to pay a company about a grand to get a plaque that says youve paid a grand for a single company to say you own a star, when u really dont, then sure go with starregistry.com.
this is taken from starregistry.com
# Q: Am I buying the star?
# A: No. We do not own the star, so we cannot sell it to you.
This is like adopting the star. This star is associated with that special someone. It is something you can point at to know that there is something special out there for you.
# Q: Will the scientific community recognize my star name?
# A: No. We are a private company that provides Gift Packages. Astronomers will not recognize your name because your name is published only in our Star catalog. We periodically print a book called Your Place in the Cosmos © which lists the stars that we have named.
and then uve got to realize that chance of you ever finding "your" star is basically 0%. unless its the north star or part of some popular constellation it would be hard for any amateur astronomer to find a specific star.
o, and how everyone said u can get a star named after you if you discover it. no, thats only comets and asteroids. have you ever heard of a star named "tom"? all of them have names like gliese 581, there is a specific name to name stars.
2007-11-28 20:56:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
For a fee, you can name a star but the name will not be officially reconginzed by anyone other than the loved one presented with the certificate.
The following is taken from the International Astronomical Union website:
The IAU frequently receives requests from individuals who want to buy star names or name stars after other persons. Some commercial enterprises purport to offer such services for a fee. However, such "names" have no formal or official validity whatever: A few bright stars have ancient, traditional Arabic names, but otherwise stars have just catalogue numbers and positions on the sky. Similar rules on "buying" names apply to star clusters and galaxies as well. For bodies in the Solar System, special procedures for assigning official names apply, but in no case are commercial transactions involved.
As an international scientific organization, the IAU dissociates itself entirely from the commercial practice of "selling" fictitious star names or "real estate" on other planets or moons in the Solar System. Accordingly, the IAU maintains no list of the (several competing) enterprises in this business in individual countries of the world. Readers wanting to contact such enterprises despite the explanations given below should search commercial directories in their country of origin.
2007-11-28 20:47:25 · answer #3 · answered by skmoejoe 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is true that there is no way for you to officially name a star for someone. The International Astrophysical Union is the only authority for naming celestial objects, and they have specific criteria for doing so. NASA does not sponsor any of those websites, nor does the ESA or any other space agency. They have no official standing, and are only novelties.
2007-11-28 22:47:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one association that is responsible for the naming of stars, or any other astronomical body for that matter. It is called the IAU (that stands for International Astronomical Union). Why anyone on earth can point up at a star and name it "my-star", or even "sell" you a star with "your name" on it, only the IAU can officially name a star that will appear in SCIENTIFIC journals, books, and star atlases, and therefore be recognized by all astronomers worldwide.
2007-11-28 21:03:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
None that I know of-------???? There are internet sites that sell star names and give the coordinates------- however my astronomy club has never been able to locate a star at the exact coordinates given. So if it's there it must be VERY dim somewhere on the other side of magnitude 18-20 !! Don't waste your money!
2007-11-28 21:07:08 · answer #6 · answered by Bullseye 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have around 20 stars for sale right now and would be pleased to help you out, friend. I will write any name you provide down on the bill of sale, and refer to the star always using that name from now on if you wish. I might run an Ad in the local paper to advertise your new name of one particular star for you to help get the ball rolling.
2007-11-28 20:45:48 · answer #7 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why should you pay anything to name a star? The sky is full of them !
Just pick one and make it your own, the universe is for us to enjoy and there shouldn't be a price on anything that God created.
2007-11-28 21:40:07 · answer #8 · answered by bornfree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don`t waste your money.
2007-11-29 01:45:00 · answer #9 · answered by harryb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you have to call some place and have your name put on a list. Every time a new star is dicovered, they take the oldest name on the top of the list and name it. I also think there is a small fee for it.
2007-11-28 20:41:54 · answer #10 · answered by Beakin 3 · 0⤊ 7⤋