In reality, paying 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 official astronomical organizations. In fact, the Khaleej Times of Dubai stated that the service has “elements of fraud” in an article published in May 2024.
Who Names the Stars?
According to the Vietnam Astronomical and Space Association (VACA), all stars in the sky have scientific names, usually a combination of letters and numbers used by researchers to record their positions. For example, HR 7001, 2MASS J18365633+3847012.
In some countries, special stars may have common names. For example, in Vietnam, the planet Venus in the Solar System is known by two names: Morning Star and Evening Star. In Greece, the brightest star in the sky is commonly referred to as Sirius.
The names of stars are only valid when recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This organization is a federation of astronomical societies around the world. The IAU currently has 9,598 individual members, primarily astronomers with doctoral degrees or higher, and 63 national members.
The English name for Venus is also associated with the goddess of love and beauty in ancient Roman mythology. (Image: Scienceabc).
The IAU has a subsidiary body known as the Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), tasked with establishing naming conventions for celestial bodies, personal names, and categorizing planets. However, for a planet’s personal name to be recognized, the WGPSN must conduct extensive research across various cultures worldwide and present findings to the IAU Executive Committee. Names are only approved when they meet cultural and astronomical scientific standards.
In an official statement, the IAU mentioned that the agency frequently receives requests for buying and naming stars. However, the association asserts that it does not provide such services and that “those names” hold no scientific or legal value.
“As an international scientific organization, the IAU is entirely separate from the activity of ‘buying’ star names or purchasing real estate on celestial bodies. The association also does not support naming stars for commercial or personal purposes.“, the association stated on its information page.
“Star Harvesting” for Idols
At the beginning of 2024, an Arab man gained fame for claiming he gifted his wife a star in the sky. The Khaleej Times later interviewed Hassan Al Hariri, director of the Dubai Astronomy Group, to clarify the matter.
“This act is no different from a scam,” Mr. Hariri remarked. “Stars cannot be bought or sold, and the concept of naming a star with a certificate is misleading and false.”
According to him, some websites and advertisements deceive Dubai residents into purchasing stars for prices as high as $1,000. They even provide victims with certificates claiming ownership and naming rights for the star.
One of the first companies to sell star-naming services is the International Star Registry, which has been operating since 1979. They select dim stars that have been identified in the galaxy and do not have individual names, selling them for an average of $50 per name. The company then sends customers a certificate and a map clearly showing the star’s location and brightness.
After her passing, Princess Diana was also honored by fans who named two stars in her memory. Many celebrities worldwide, such as Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise, share names with several stars.
VACA assesses that the buying and selling of stars is only for “entertainment” since no astronomical organization recognizes these transactions. The name assigned to the star based on the customer’s wishes is only valid within the service provider’s information system.
“Like many 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 a star can bring is its beauty in the night sky.”, the IAU stated in an article affirming its disconnection from the activities of buying and naming celestial bodies.
