International Star Registry

The International Star Registry (ISR), founded in 1979, enables buyers to name a star as a gift or memorial. Once the star is named, the ISR publishes its telescopic coordinates in a book called "Your Place in the Cosmos."

The names in this book are not recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which has the internationally recognized authority to name and designate newly discovered stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and other heavenly bodies.

Criticisms

The IAU has called the ISR's star-naming business "a deplorable commercial trick." [Cecil Adams, [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_385.html "Can you pay $35 to get a star named after you?"] from "The Straight Dope," 1 Apr 1988.]

See also

* Star designation

References

External links

* [http://www.starregistry.com The International Star Registry's website]
* [http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49345,00.html Buy a Star, But It's Not Yours] (from Wired magazine)
* [http://enzerink.net/peter/Astronomy_with_Peter_Enzerink/Name_A_Star.html The Official Star Naming FAQ]
* [http://www.iau.org/BUYING_STAR_NAMES.244.0.html The International Astronomical Union's statement on star registries]
* [http://www.space.com/spacewatch/mystery_monday_030915.html SPACE.com: Name a star? The truth about buying your place in heaven]