In reality, spending money to name planets has never been officially recognized.
Star-naming services are quite popular both internationally and in Vietnam, with prices ranging from $5 to $199 per name. However, experts assert that this activity is merely for entertainment and is not recognized by any official astronomical organization. In fact, the Khaleej Times of Dubai stated that the service “contains elements of fraud” in a report published in May 2024.
Who Names the Stars?
According to the Vietnam Astronomical and Cosmological Association (VACA), all stars in the sky have scientific names, typically a series of letters and numbers that researchers use to record their positions. For example, HR 7001 and 2MASS J18365633+3847012.
In some countries, certain stars have unique names, often referred to as common names. For instance, in Vietnam, the planet Venus is known by two names: Sao Mai and Sao Hôm. In Greece, the brightest star in the sky is commonly called Sirius.
The names of stars are only valid when recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This is an association of astronomical societies from around the world. The IAU currently has 9,598 individual members, primarily researchers with doctoral degrees or higher, along with 63 national members.
The English name for Venus is also that of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. (Image: Scienceabc).
The IAU has a subsidiary body called the Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), responsible for establishing naming conventions for celestial bodies, proper names, and classifying planets. However, for a planet’s proper name to be recognized, WGPSN must conduct extensive research across various cultures worldwide and present the findings to the IAU Executive Committee. Names are only approved when they meet cultural and astronomical scientific standards.
In a statement on its official website, the IAU mentioned that it frequently receives requests to buy and name stars. However, the Association asserts that it does not provide this service and that “such names” hold no scientific or legal value.
“As an international scientific organization, IAU is entirely separate from activities of ‘buying and selling’ star names or real estate on planets. The Association also does not endorse naming stars for commercial or personal purposes.”, the Association stated on its website.
“Star Harvesting” for Gifts
In early 2024, an Arab man gained notoriety for claiming to gift his wife a star in the sky. The Khaleej Times later interviewed Mr. Hassan Al Hariri, director of the Dubai Astronomy Group, to clarify the situation.
“This act is nothing short of a scam,” Mr. Hariri commented. “Stars cannot be bought or sold, and the concept of naming a star with a certificate is misleading and fraudulent.”
According to him, some websites and advertisements deceive residents of Dubai into purchasing stars for prices that can reach up to $1,000. They even provide victims with certificates claiming ownership and naming rights for the stars.
One of the first companies to offer star-naming services is the International Star Registry, which has been in operation since 1979. They select stars with low brightness that have already been identified in the galaxy, which do not have official names, and sell these names for an average of $50 each. Afterwards, the company sends customers a certificate and a map clearly indicating the star’s location and brightness.
After her passing, Princess Diana also had two stars named in her memory by fans. Many celebrities around the world, such as Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise, share names with several stars.
VACA considers the buying and selling of stars to be merely “entertainment” because no astronomical organization recognizes them. The names assigned to stars at the request of customers are only valid within the information provided by the service provider.
“Like the wonderful things in life, the beauty of the night sky is not for sale. Everyone has the right to enjoy it for free. The true gift that a star can offer is its beauty in the night sky.”, the IAU stated in its affirmation of its non-involvement in the buying and naming of celestial bodies.
