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Staracle®
International Star Directory

Why is star naming free at Staracle?

It's very simple: The only official authority to name stars is the International Astronomical Union (IAU). And they won't let you name a star. You can read their official statement on star naming here.
Therefore, any star naming service you find on the Internet will simply keep your name in their private database, but it will never be the star's official name. And we really mean: any star naming service out there! No astronomer or scientist will ever recognize the star's name. Most of the big commercial companies even give away the same stars over and over again. How can that be real?
Therefore, regardless whether you name a star for free or pay a lot of money for it: It is exactly the same!
Even better: Only free star naming has been acknowledged by astronomers! Read more at Sky and Telescope or Astronomie.at.

Is it a Hoax?

No, it's not any different than commercial star naming where you pay a lot of money, only that you get it for free! Any star naming service you find on the Internet will simply keep your name in their private database, but it will never be the star's official name. Some of them even give away the same stars over and over again! Consequently, you will never ever have any official rights for the star you named, even though some naming sites claim you do.
Therefore, naming a star is a pure symbolic act. It is just for fun! And that's also why naming a star is totally free at Staracle®. We do it just for fun!

At Staracle ...

Why do they say free star naming is not legit?

Because they want your money! It's that simple! Imagine running a business with an expensive fake product for years or maybe decades, and all of a sudden, the same product is offered for free. Wouldn't you do everything to convince your potential customers that the free product is bad, just because it's free?
Think twice before spending money and make a wise decision. Free star naming is just as legit as commercial star naming!

Other companies offer me a well visible star

That's simply not possible. The reason is very simple: Just look up in the night sky. How many stars can you see? Maybe a few hundred? Maybe a few thousand if you are a lucky person in a dark spot of the Earth.
There are simply not enough visible stars available. Every company that sells you a visible star betrays you because they give away the same stars over and over again. Some must have been named hundreds or thousands of times already.
Is that really something you want? At Staracle, all stars are unique just like your loved one, even though you need binoculars or a telescope to see them.

I'm still not sure

Before you spend 100 bucks or more on a star, please read this up-to-date article by Bob Berman, published in the Old Farmers Almanac, or this article on the famous wired.com blog. Brad Tucker also wrote a great article on star naming. Also, this star naming FAQ gives a really good overview of the topic.
 
Last but not least, read the official statement of the International Astronomical Union, the only body that is internationally recognized to name a star.
It's always better to name a star for free and then spend the money on a nice neclace for your loved one. That will give you much more value for your money.

Name a star for free!

... because it is as real as if you pay! (Why?)
A personal star is the perfect gift for your loved ones. Your star's certificate is only a few clicks away.

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