Name a star: what you actually get, and an alternative
Obiblion · updated
A ‘name a star’ gift is a certificate saying a company has written your chosen name next to a star in its own private list. Astronomers won't use that name: only the International Astronomical Union assigns official names. It can still be a sweet keepsake, as long as you know that's what you're buying.
What's in the box
Most star-naming gifts include a certificate, a chart showing roughly where the star is, and the star's catalogue reference. Some add a frame, an app or a printed booklet. The name is stored in the seller's database, and different companies can sell the same star to different people.
The stars on offer are usually far too faint to see with the naked eye, so the recipient often can't step outside and point to it without a telescope.
Why the name isn't official
The International Astronomical Union is the body that approves names for stars, planets and their features. It has said publicly that it does not recognise commercial star names and that it does not sell names.
That doesn't make the gift worthless. It means the value is in the gesture and the story, not in any record outside the seller's own list.
How to tell an honest seller
Look for a plain statement that the name is symbolic. Be wary of words like ‘official’, ‘registered’ or ‘recognised’ when the page doesn't say by whom.
Check whether what you buy is unique (or whether the same star can be named again by another customer), and what the recipient can actually see or visit once the certificate is in a drawer.
Alternatives that people can see
A star map of the sky on a specific date and place is accurate, personal and needs no claims at all. A night at a dark-sky site lets someone see thousands of real stars, and a planetarium visit explains what they're looking at.
Obiblion offers a different kind of place: a digital parcel on Mars, Earth, Saturn or another planet in a 3D model of the Solar System. Each parcel is held by one person only, has exact coordinates, and has a public page with a name and a dedication that anyone can open. It's a digital parcel, not real property and not an official name, and it says so on every page.
Questions
Is naming a star real?
The certificate is real, but the name is not official. Only the International Astronomical Union assigns recognised names, and it doesn't sell them.
Can two people name the same star?
With commercial registries, yes: each company keeps its own list, so the same star can carry different names from different sellers.
Can I see the star I named?
Usually not with the naked eye. The stars offered are typically faint and need binoculars or a telescope to find.
What is a good alternative to naming a star?
A star map of a meaningful date, a night under dark skies, or a named place you can open and share, such as a digital parcel on a planet with its own page and dedication.
Is an Obiblion parcel unique?
Yes. Each parcel has one holder at a time and its own reference and coordinates. It is a digital parcel inside Obiblion, not real property, and cannot be resold.