Has it ever occurred to you that you can buy a star in the sky?

Well it is possible to give your name to a star, and there are all sorts of companies that offer this star naming service. The fashion trend has become a profitable chance for businesses that offer the deal particularly since the star naming is considered both romantic and very chic as a birthday gift or some form of memorial to someone. Are you in doubt? It's a matter of personal taste; just imagine how many stars called “Jane” there must be on the sky. Yet, the star name is registered only with the company that sells the service and it does not appear in any other official records.

The most common of occasions when people buy a star in the sky include anniversaries, new babies, birthdays and other special events. A star remains a unique and thoughtful gift, just think of how significant such a gesture can be when associated with a baby's coming to the world. Most of the stars known to our world have names from the antiquity and such data were registered in special annals that are as old as two and a half millennia. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the one presently in charge of celestial body naming, and they do not recognize the stars you buy from all sorts of companies.

When you want to buy a star in the sky, the selection can be made from several kind of packages that can be purchased online or have it shipped after filling a form. To name a star you pay around $15, but other items are also included in the kit, such as a piece of astronomy literature, the star certificate with the coordinates and a plaque to frame the certificate. For more complex packages you are also offered atlases, books and moon phase calenders in the most advanced or special of categories. Such a gift costs around $100 and it is said to work great in terms of sentimental impact on the person it is offered to.

Keep in mind that even though you buy a star in the sky, you are not actually giving the scientific name, and it will be marked in your records only but not be recognized by the astronomical institutions who cover sky mapping. Nevertheless, a star with your name is definitely a cool gift and the certificate with its coordinates and astronomical information make possible the eventual identification of the celestial body.