Some “star sellers” are offering tempting Valentine’s Day deals. Playing on the romanticism of giving a star name as a gift, these sites issue certificates that have no scientific value. But which are not necessarily illegal either.
“ Buy a star “, ” name a star “. Each time of festivities conducive to gift buying, such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, this tempting proposition resurfaces on social networks. It is often cited as an original gift idea to give to your romantic partner. However, this gift, which can sometimes be quite expensive, has absolutely no scientific value. Its buyers, tempted by special promotional offers for Valentine’s Day, are not necessarily aware of it.
As France Info noted in January 2023, the amounts of these sales are sometimes high: count €50 for a so-called “standard” star, €80 for a constellation. The sites in question generally issue a certificate, framed or not, assuring the recipient of the gift that the star has indeed been purchased and named.
“ It’s a scam. The only institution that can actually name a star is the International Astronomical Union (IAU) “, said Whitney Jerosmemechanics student and space-themed Twitch streamer, on her X account (ex-Twitter) on February 10, 2024.
No one can name the stars, even for love, except the IAU
Indeed, the International Astronomical Union devotes a page of its site to the names of stars, in which it confirms that it is the only authority capable of officially naming these celestial objects.
“ The IAU frequently receives requests from individuals who wish to purchase or name stars (or any other astronomical object). Some commercial companies claim to offer such services for a fee. However, these ‘names’ have no formal or official validity », summarizes the NGO, responsible for coordinating astronomical work around the world. “ As an international scientific organization, the IAU completely dissociates itself from the commercial practice of ‘selling’ fictitious star names. »
The only officially recognized star names appear in the IAU register. Since 2016, the International Astronomical Union has also undertaken to clarify the situation for many star names. Over the centuries, different cultures and different astronomers were able to give their own names to the stars, creating confusion. A “Star Names Working Group” now maintains the register of approved unique names. And the IAU affirms, “ when it comes to naming the bodies of the solar system, official procedures must be followed, it is never a question of transaction “.
“Star sellers”, an often legal business
But, then, are these practices of selling star names illegal? Can we really call it a scam? Not necessarily. “ Unfortunately, for astronomers, it is not possible to sue these companies, because as international law states, space does not belong to anyone.adds Sébastien Beaucourt, scientific mediator at the Reims Planetarium, in a video on YouTube. Furthermore, these companies protect themselves by mentioning in small letters on their certificate that ‘the document does not give any right to the star’. […] And yes, abusing the public’s credulity with pseudo-scientific dressing is perfectly legal. »
These “star sellers” can therefore only be attacked if they claim to offer official names. This was the case of the International Star Registry, condemned in 1998 by the New York Department of Consumer Affairs for false advertising. This organization, which has since abandoned the term “official”, continues to sell star names today.
“ The scientific community has no interest in mobilizingaccording to Sébastien Beaucourt. On the one hand, this is a waste of time, and on the other hand, there is no harm to scientists. As is often the case, those who are wronged are the gullible. » And transit lovers.
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