Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from ...

STAR HUSTLERS 241
I’ll note that Martino has a daughter named Celeste: she is
named after the stars and not the other way around.
PPP
For their part, the ISR must be aware that many people buy stars
as memorials; they have partnered with the Cancer Research Campaign,
a company in the United Kingdom that raises money for
cancer research. It’s certainly understandable to do something to
honor those who have died, especially family members. However,
it might be better to donate money directly to a charitable organization,
even more so if it’s an organization promoting something
about which you feel strongly.
Incidentally, on three separate occasions over the course of many
weeks I called the ISR asking for comments on this situation, and
even sent them a written letter. I also tried to get the university’s
side of the story. However, as of the time of this writing I have not
received a reply from either of them.
The best thing to say is probably, “Caveat emptor.” If you go
in with your eyes open, understanding that star-naming is all completely
unofficial, maybe there’s no harm done. However, judging
from stories I’ve heard from astronomers at planetaria and observatories,
when most visitors ask to see “their” star, they don’t understand
that these companies are not official in any way. As the city
of New York found, many of their ads really are deceptive.
PPP
Ironically, the ISR’s knowledge of astronomy could be better. The
Australia-New Zealand office of the ISR has a web page (http://
www.starregistry.com.au) where you can order a star name and
find out more about the company. They have a “Frequently Asked
Questions” page, and on it is the following gem:
question: What happens if my star falls out of the sky?
answer: If this should happen, and came to our attention, we
would most certainly name a new star for that person
at our expense.