Name a Star for Free | Universe Today

Written by Fraser Cain

We have gone on record here at Universe Today in explaining the star naming services out there. There's no service out there that can let you actually give a star a name that will actually be recognized by the astronomical community. All of the star naming services do is update their own private database and give you some specific information about the star so you can find it on your own. There are a couple of services that do let you name a star for free, though. Since money isn't at play, it's not so bad.

Just to be clear, though, the official names of stars are designated by the International Astronomical Union. They meet every two years and decide on names for objects like planets and stars. For example, at a famous meeting in Prague in 1996, the IAU decided that Pluto is no longer designated as a planet.

Here's one free service that lets you name a star for free. They'll keep the name, and give you a document you can print off that records the star name and lets you locate it in the night sky.

Another service isn't free, but the proceeds go to helping astronomers search for extrasolar planets. So this is for a good cause.

But if any company offers to sell you the rights to name a star, you've got to understand that they're selling something that they don't have a legitimate right to sell. It would be the same as someone offering to sell you the right to name a town. The people living in that town might not agree with the new name you've given them.

We've written more on this subject with an article called, Name a Star, Real or Ripoff?

Filed under: Astronomy

Tags: buy a star, name a star, Star, star naming, stars