Naming a Star for my hubby

[ChloeJ86]

I am thinking of naming a star for my hubby as a personal Christmas present, I told a work colleague about the idea and she laughed and said its not the sort of gift to give a man. Am I being daft by listening to her, or should I just buy it anyway? Help any advice would be great

It’s sort of a pointless made up gift, but if you think he’ll like it……..

Is it made up? I am probably being naive but do they not actually name the star that you get then? I was looking to buy one from www.starnaminggifts.co.uk , and I cannot see anything to say its not real, but I think you have confirmed for me that maybe its not the right gift idea. I may just stick to the watch and get that engraved instead.

I would only do this as a jokey present

It’s not ‘made up’ in the sense of it being a scam or anything but it’s not a gift you can see any evidence of.

My DH would be neither thrilled nor unhappy with this gift but that would be my reaction too. It’s not because he’s a man.

Depends. Is he into astronomy? Would he get a kick out of tracking his star down in the night sky with his backyard telescope? Some people might like it.

I'd see this as pointless and naff, sorry.

DS got a star named after him for his first birthday. In reality, he got a certificate with a huge grid reference on it, in a not very fancy box.

I do think it's a scam. Who owns the stars to name them? No one. So just because you've paid twenty quid to make a star Steve, it doesn't mean it officially is.

It's a scam, Google it. Only the international Astronomical Union can name celestial objects and they don't sell names.

another vote here for it not being a ‘real’ present , no one owns the stars and in reality you’re paying however much for a certificate if no meaning. What about an experience gift voucher instead ?

It is a scam. I looked into this when wanting to commemorate our baby, who we lost late in pregnancy. It really mattered to me to commemorate bubs and I thought this would be a nice way.

I was really disappointed to find out it was all nonsense. Basically, these companies 'selling' star names have nothing to do with the formal registry, which does not allow for this kind of practice.

Basically you're buying "according to us at starnaminggifts, we call this star Mr Chloej", but then every other star naming company will also sell that same star and call it a different name. That company may not sell the star to someone else (if they are honest), but all you're buying is a bit of paper. It's technically not a scam but it's very close!

To be honest, I think of this as being a gift for a young child, not an adult man. Even if it was real.

Whilst it's a lovely thought, in reality you get a bit of paper.

What about a blowjob? I’m sure any man would prefer it to a star named after him !

@Treecreature

It's a scam, Google it. Only the international Astronomical Union can name celestial objects and they don't sell names.

Didn’t know that.

Take back my comment above then.

even if it was real it's so naff

Naming stars smacks of colonialism - naming rights should go to the inhabitants of that solar system. Imagine if aliens came to our planet and demanded we start calling the Sun “Dave”.

Just mock up a certificate on word. It's pretty much what the start sellers do anyway

@ThirdElephant

Depends. Is he into astronomy? Would he get a kick out of tracking his star down in the night sky with his backyard telescope? Some people might like it.

Official POV explained…

www.iau.org/public/themes/buying_star_names/

Those stars that do have names (e.g. Deneb, Betelgeuse) got given them thousands of years ago..

If one has to be identified it is done nowadays it’s usually done by a Catalogue name and number, astronomers don’t go looking for “Fred Smiths” star…

Sorry ThirdElephantbthat was accidentally linked to your post..a telescopes isn’t a bad idea but the OP needs to be aware a decent one isn’t cheap..

It is naff

@GoIntoTheLight I actually rather like that idea.

I got a star named after me as a gift as a teenager from a random family member… no idea where the star or the certificate are now… 🤷‍♀️

It’s quite trendy to buy a Lordship at the moment if that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for. But the watch idea is actually a proper, real present so I’d stick to that.

Apologies if this has already been said... but there are 25 pages to wade through now and I need to go out.

Anyway it might be better for him to change his name to 'Alpha Centauri'

(It wouldn't be a surprise on Christmas Day though )