Crickey!!!!

[ving]

I was listening to triple J thismorning and someone rang up and said they (and some friends) had spent $300 and bought Missy Higgins a star for her birthday... one near the Crux region somewhere.

this made me think... 'what? stars are for sale?'. so naturally when i got to work i googled it and was tottally gob-smacked at the number of organisations they say you can buy a star from them or that allow you to name a star after... well whatever you like really!
are these companies linked in someway so that someone else at a different company doesnt buy the same star as you? and where does the money go? i mean, you get a certificate and sometimes a star chart showing where it is but thats hardly $300 worth... and you dont actually get to take the star home. regular star charts and astro programs dont recognise the new name, nor do (i assume) professional astronomers....

i guess this is moer of a rant than anything...:rofl:
sorry....:lol:

its a cute idea and very romantic but they charge way too much for this little scam. :rolleyes:

[[1ponders]]

Basically the same rip off as buying land on the moon ving. Parasites preying on the gullible again. :mad2:

[Dennis]

And what's more, I understand than NONE of the stars "for sale" are visible to the naked eye?

On the other hand, I can understand that it might be comforting to someone who would like to remember a loved one, to be able to gaze up at night and be reminded of them?

Cheers

Dennis

[ving]

like i said dennis, it sure is a cute and romantic gesture, but they charge an arm and a leg for it... i'd pay $5 for a certificate and chart stating that 'this 9th mag star is now called little ving', but $300 USD?

[rogerg]

I thought it was simply a case of each organisation selling stars just makes up their own list and records your name against that, there's absolutely no link to any central organisation. I remember reading disclaimers from a few organisations doing it and they fully admit this is the case.

I've had people contact me through my website asking if I can take a photo of their star for them, I just say all it takes is $$$ :) They're usually happy to pay but so far none of the enquiries have been for a star that is visible at the current time - it's either a northern hemisphere star or it's only above the horizon during daytime at that time of year. I think their interest fades when they realise it can't be seen at night right then and there.

Roger.

[Dennis]

OUCH! - that certainly is expensive and seems exorbitant. Also, I suspect that most purchasers don not have a clue about the star and how difficult it would be to find, see and positively identify a 9th mag star if the recipient actually wanted to see the object.

Cheers

Dennis

[astronut]

My opinion is........:mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

[ving]

how unusual... your replies are usually followed by :lol: :lol: :lol: or :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:D

[mickoking]

me too :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

[h0ughy]

FOR SALE,

one slightly used star, approx 4 million years old, low mileage, nuclear engine works well, no heavy elements produced yet so Super Nova insurance will be cheap!

pAID $300, ASKING $280

[iceman]

I remember this on Great Outdoors with Jennifer Hawkins, getting a 15th mag star named after her.. they showed it in the eyepiece of the Meade 14" at Sydney Observatory, and guess what, it looked like a bright colourful M31!?

What are the chances of that?

Bloody ripoffs.

[h0ughy]

Mike it was quite obvious it was a background star:lol: I can see it now, IIS make a wish on a Star then buy it, 29.99 plus free steak knives! You can offer fill images of said star and certify that it is there, and manually type in a name! The IAU don't own them either:P just name them. hey all those northern hemisphere people cant see the southern skies, so sell it to them:D :P

PS remember that game back in the 80's called Scruples!!!

[RAJAH235]

FWIW. 'Ripley's; Believe It Or Not'. Sydney Observatory (http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/home.asp)& our esteemed Nick Lomb actually have this 'scheme' running. Take a look at their front page.
We, WAACers have had lots of enquiries for the same thing. We just say it's not avail as all the stars are currently named by the IAU & you cannot rename any star just by 'buying it'.
PTN. Some people do have a need for it tho. as in, when a loved one needs to be remembered. But that is their choice.
Stinks really...:poke:
(IMPO).:D L.

[[1ponders]]

Well if some people are going to get stars named after them I want my own asterism!

And here it is. The ponders unequal hexagram. Ha! And it's all mine, and it didn't cost me a cent and it's bigger than any star around, plus it has a planet in it so it is forever evolving :2thumbs: :D :party2: :party2: :party2:

[ving]

Gee Laurie, i can see why people would do it... remembering loved ones etc, but that price is still way too steep for what you get!

[RAJAH235]

Yep, David. My point exactly. It's a lot of money for a little piece of paper with a bit of 'special writing' on it. :D L.

[ballaratdragons]

Selling Stars with a certificate has been around in Australia for about 30 years!
Maybe longer overseas.

It was even on Current Affair about 10 years ago. (they thought it was a great idea :doh: )

Keep up people. :lol:

I was asked about it by a local, and checked on how popular it has become. Yes, there are more organisations selling stars now and NO, they are not linked to each other to prevent double-selling. It's just a legal scam. Some have Stars available for as low as $100 (no Certificate) $130 (with Certificate). Still too dear!

As far as remembering a deceased love-one, I think it is a good idea if the whole idea was re-worded to make it that. A Rememberance Star! Not 'own' it, just use it. :thumbsup:

[ving]

gee i wonder what sort of star you get for $100? a brown dwarf?

[mickoking]

We all know its bunkum and a rip off. I would not advise anyone to hand over money to have a piddly 9th mag star in pictor named after them that isn't even recorgnised. Strewth :mad2:

[h0ughy]

:lol:

you're not talking about my qualifications again are you?;)

[astroron]

Ving! send me $ 5:00 and I will send you a certificate for any star you like Sirius?:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Lee]

Why buy someone a 15th mag speck they are never likely to see? Do what I did, and give your loved one something like Betelgeuse.... :love:costs nothing.... and 2 months later she will insist you buy a G11.... :cool::cool:

There's a lesson in there for everyone.... :D

[RAJAH235]

Ahhhhh, David. Ta muchly. I must chose my wording more carefully, for I too, have a 'Certificate of Trade'. :P :poke:
This has been going on for years & I cannot see it being stopped at any time. I hope that the people that 'buy the star', especially for a lost loved one, do get some solice out of it.
It still irks me to know, that they've just wasted their money.
We can but try to inform.
Regards, L.:D

[sheeny]

Oh, look Ving! Anyone can buy a star these days... but have I got a deal for you!

Beat the rush, get in now before the market explodes and you could make a killing on the Interstellar Property Market. That's right, for under, $200, yes, just $200, you could receive your very own title deeds to 3 cubic light years of interstellar space close to both Earth and Proxima Centauri.

But wait there's more... hurry and you could get one of the prime blocks of interstellar real estate, with heliopause frontage for no extra charge. That's right, no extra charge... These blocks are well positioned, and have great earning potential - consider setting up toll gates for all those travellers going out to visit their newly bought stars...

:rofl:

oh the sad bit is I could go on...

Al.

[leon]

I know a person who dose this.
The person picks any visable and bright star of there choosing, even around the crux region so it is visible most of the night.
There are Stars for any occasion, like births, wedding couple, deaths, anniversary stars, and so on.

This person, lets the person who wants the star choose it, than photographs it for them, Supplies a certificate with the photo on the certificate, enters the exact cordinates for that star, it's real name, and position in the sky, so if they go anywhere in Australia, and can find some one who knows a little about astronomy, it can be pinpointed for them.

The person who wants this star named can put anyones name on it, like, boyfriend, wife, baby, whatever, and it is given to that person as a rememberance for that special ossasion.

The receiver Gets, fully framed certificate, star map, instructions on how to find it, plus when it is best visible through the year, plus more info on that star.

All This for 39.95. a nice gift for some special event i reckon.

Australia Only

Cheers leon

[astronut]

Very funny Houghy:lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :lol: :rofl: There Ving is that better:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:









Quote: Originally Posted by astronut
My opinion is........:mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:

how unusual... your replies are usually followed by :lol: :lol: :lol: or :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:D

[Octane]

Mike,

Yeah, but it was Jennifer Hawkins, so it makes it all OK. :D

Regards,
Humayun

[ving]

much thanks :P

[mickoking]

If Jennifer Hawkins gets a 15th mag star what hope is their for me? I don't go below the third magnitude :P

[norm]

So will a binary cost twice as much ?:lol::lol::lol:

I remember Mount Stromolo had a similar thing going too - RIP OFF!!!