Can You Really Buy a Star? An Honest Answer

Short answer: You can't buy a star, and no company can give one an official name. What you can do is name a star as a symbolic gift. A company records your name for a real star in its own register and sends a certificate. That's what we do, and we think you should know it before you buy.

Can you actually buy a star?

No. Nobody owns stars. What's sold as "buy a star" is really "name a star": a gift, not a deed of ownership.

Is the name official?

No. The International Astronomical Union is the body that approves official star names. It says names sold by companies have no official validity (IAU). Astronomers use catalogue numbers like HIP 55637. They won't use a gift name. That's true for every star-naming company.

So what do you actually get?

With Starniri:

• A real star that's already in a scientific catalogue.
• Your chosen name recorded for it in our register, once. We don't sell the same star again.
• A certificate with the name, date and your message.
• A star page on Find My Star with survey photos and where it sits.

Here's the full step by step.

Is it a scam, then?

It's a scam if someone tells you the name is official, or that the star is yours to own. It's a fair gift if they're honest about what it is. Ask any company three things:

1. Do they say plainly it's not official?
2. Is it a real, catalogued star you can look up?
3. Can you find it again, with a code or a page?

Can you see the star you name?

Usually not with your eyes alone. Named stars tend to be faint. You'll need a star app to point to it and a telescope to see it. How to see your star.

Why do people still love it?

Because the meaning was never about astronomers. You picked a real point of light, gave it someone's name, and tied it to a date that matters. People buy it for memorials, new babies, anniversaries and partners who live far away. That's the part they remember.

How much does it cost to name a star?

With us, from £19.99 for the Gift Folio to £164.99 for the Ultimate Set. Most people start with the Signature Set at £39.99. Compare the sets.

For the full myth-by-myth breakdown, read is naming a star real or a scam, see how naming a star works, or check the star naming FAQ.

Questions people ask

Can I name a star after someone who died?

Yes. It's one of the most common reasons. See memorial star ideas.

Will NASA or any observatory use the name?

No. Only catalogue numbers and IAU-approved names are used in science.

Can two companies name the same star?

They can, since registers are private. We only name each star once in ours.

See also our can you name a star page.