How cheap is it to name a star?
I was thinking of getting a star named, and I was wondering:
1. Does it last? Will cheap companies resell your star or just never name it?
2. Where's the cheapest, most realiable site?
3. Where can you name a star not just one person's name, but a name you want? I.E. not Maggie Smith but Shining Light
4. Have you named a star? What are your experiences?
Any other useful info would be helpful. Thanks!
It costs nothing to name a star, but there's a catch: you have to be the astronomer who discovers it! However, I know you're thinking of those companies that say they'll name a star after you, for a fee. What they do is simply publish a book containing all those stars that are named after their customers. The books don't get wide circulation, and the names are not official, nor recognized by anyone except the company that produces it. I'm sure those companies would let you name a star anything you want. And you could go to different companies, and have the star given different names. Or you could create a document on your computer, using a graphics program, naming the star…that would be about as "official," and recognized, as having some one else do it.
Correction: I thought you could name a star if you discovered it, but apparently, there are so many of them out there that they just get assigned numbers. But you CAN discover, and name, your very own comet! And all you need is a decent rich-field telescope or really good binoculars, and LOTS of time on your hands.