Sky

The most common of occasions when people buy a star in the sky include anniversaries, new babies, birthdays and other special events. A star is surely 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 antique times and such data were kept in special atlases that are as old as two and a half millennia. The International Astronomical Union 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, you get to choose among several packages that can be ordered online or through mail after filling a form. The naming of the star is usually around $15, but the star certificate, the plaque for framing it and some informative literature on astronomy are also included in the package. Moon phase calendars, books and atlases as well a plani-sphere make the elements of the kit in the most advanced or special of variants. Such a gift costs around $100 and it is thought to be very efficient 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, this isn’t going to be the official name, and it will be present in your records only but not in the official documents of the astronomical institutions in charge of 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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!