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...
sorry....
its a cute idea and very romantic but they charge way too much for this little scam.
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?
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?
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.
'this 9th mag star is now called little ving', but $300 USD?
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.
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!
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!?
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.
Mike it was quite obvious it was a background star 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 just name them. hey all those northern hemisphere people cant see the southern skies, so sell it to them
PS remember that game back in the 80's called Scruples!!!
FWIW. 'Ripley's; Believe It Or Not'. Sydney Observatory & 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...
(IMPO). L.
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
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 )
Keep up people.
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.
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
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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.
just name them. hey all those northern hemisphere people cant see the southern skies, so sell it to them
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