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#11
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
Paul Schlyter wrote:
In article , Joe S. wrote: What's with this place called "International Star Registry" -- or something like that. They advertise that they will name a star for you, your sweet thing, your dog, whatever -- and "register it." And???? It works like this: 1. You send them your money. 2. They send you a "certificate"; it's a pretty-looking piece of paper and nothing more. That's it. The name they attach to some faint telescopic star and put in their book has no official status whatsoever. Astronomers will never use that name. And, in addition, that same star may be named for others, by other "star registries". Yes, there are several companies which sell unofficial star names against a fee. One of them even tries to appear very "official" by calling itself "Ministry of Federal Star Registration", but it's just a scam company among the other star name selling companies. Check out these links: Info about buying star names: ============================= http://www.wired.com/news/business/0...?tw=wn20011226 Buy a Star, But It's Not Yours (Wired) http://home.columbus.rr.com/starfaq/ Buy a Star Name FAQ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/con...tarNaming.html Buying a Star: the Facts http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Ec...ed_Gifts/Stars Buying a star http://www.mindspring.com/~jeffpo/buystar.htm Can I Buy a Star?, Can I Name a Star? http://www.ips-planetarium.org/ips-starnaming.html IPS: Publications -- IPS Official Statement on Star Naming... http://home.columbus.rr.com/starfaq/ Official Star Naming FAQ http://www.findarticles.com/m1202/2_.../article.jhtml Sky and Telescope: Astronomers Threatened by Star-Naming Company. http://home.carolina.rr.com/nirgal/buyastar.html So You Want to Buy A Star? Star naming companies -- all of them are unofficial, including the "Ministry of Federal Star Registration": ================================================== ==== http://www.celestial-registry.com/ http://www.celestialregistry.com/ Celestial Registry http://www.shopsite.com/stars/ http://www.starregistry.com.au/ http://www.starregistry.co.uk/ http://www.tyger.co.uk/starreg/ http://www.starregistry.com/ http://www.corporatestar.com/ International Star Registry http://www.buyastar.com/ Ministry of Federal Star Registration (despite the name, it's just a small company) http://www.kreative.net/seascape/star/ Schell's Astronomical Index http://www.stardeed.com/ Star Deed http://www.starnames.com/ Universal Star Listing Some other scams: ================= http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...ake+%2Bfortune Oscar Hartzell - a very successful scammer http://www.pulc.com/Programs/professional.htm Professional Ph.D.'s for sale!!! http://www.scamorama.com/ Scam o Rama, or The Lads from Lagos -- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Schlyter, Grev Turegatan 40, SE-114 38 Stockholm, SWEDEN e-mail: pausch at stockholm dot bostream dot se WWW: http://www.stjarnhimlen.se/ http://home.tiscali.se/pausch/ Thanks Paul -Sam |
#12
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
In article , JAS wrote:
Thanks to all who replied. That's what I thought. Folks at work know I have a scope and that I stay up late or get up at ghastly hours to look at stars. One lady at work asked me about the ISR -- she saw an advertisement of some kind and she wants to "name a star" for her husband or son or someone -- guess I'll tell her that no astronomer will use that name but if it floats her boat . . . . I like John Steinberg's comparison to pet rocks! What bugs me about the ISR is the maps they send. I've seen a couple of friends' ISR packets. In each case, the map (a) didn't show the star -- its limiting magnitude was 'way too bright, showing essentially what you'd see in small binoculars (mag 7) while the star was much fainter (mag 11 or so). Much worse in my opinion, (b) the map was clearly a xeroxed page from the Skalnate Pleso Atlas of the Heavens, but didn't admit it -- nowhere in the packet nor on the map was the source of the map mentioned. I'll bet the Czechs are getting no money at all while the ISR makes 90% profit on their silly certificates. Grump, grump. Stuart |
#13
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
Yeah, why not? If it floats the boat....I guess they do send some
literature about astronomy along too...so who knows? Maybe something like that can actually generate some interest in our great hobby... Who knows? Just as its done honestly, as you state below. Clear Skies, Tom W. JAS wrote: Thanks to all who replied. That's what I thought. Folks at work know I have a scope and that I stay up late or get up at ghastly hours to look at stars. One lady at work asked me about the ISR -- she saw an advertisement of some kind and she wants to "name a star" for her husband or son or someone -- guess I'll tell her that no astronomer will use that name but if it floats her boat . . . . -- ---- JAS "Joe S." wrote in message ... What's with this place called "International Star Registry" -- or something like that. They advertise that they will name a star for you, your sweet thing, your dog, whatever -- and "register it." And???? -- ---- Joe S. |
#14
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
John Beaderstadt wrote:
Joe, Anyone can 'sell' anyone a star name, or any other name.... Hey! If I want to do the same thing as the ISR, with exactly the same stars... I mean, if I go into business as the Beady Star Registry and sell stars to people that the International Star Registry has already sold to other people, will I get into any trouble? Get into trouble? By Who? Most stars already have 4 or 5 'official' names anyway...scientific names in fact...take Polaris, for instance: Polaris - (proper, or common, name) Alpha Ursae Minoris (astronomical name) 1 Ursae Minoris (Flamsteed numbered name) The North Star (nickname) The Pole Star (another nickname) HD 8890 And since it's a visual double, it may even have an Aiken or Burnham number. It may even have an SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) number, but I am not familar with any of these. It may even have a Palomar or Hipparchos satellite number but again, I just don't know. So, so what if it has an additional 2500 more names, like Beady star no....such and such. Astronomers will only recognize the first 4 or 5 names I listed anyway, for that particular star...after all, that's enough for the memory!! Clear Skies, Tom W. |
#15
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
"Stuart Levy" wrote in message
... In article , JAS wrote: Thanks to all who replied. That's what I thought. Folks at work know I have a scope and that I stay up late or get up at ghastly hours to look at stars. One lady at work asked me about the ISR -- she saw an advertisement of some kind and she wants to "name a star" for her husband or son or someone -- guess I'll tell her that no astronomer will use that name but if it floats her boat . . . . I like John Steinberg's comparison to pet rocks! What bugs me about the ISR is the maps they send. snip I received one as a gift when I was a kid. Some star in Hercules. They even took a yellow hi-liter and outlined Hercules on the map, but made a mistake. Instead of doing a new one, I have Herc outlined, and a yellow swipe off one star to nowhere. Very cheesey. I do however, admit, I still have the certificate. It'd be hoot to see if anyone else has the same star from ISR. Lawsuit material? BV. |
#16
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
Not Really, BV...
While it may seem to us astronomers that what they do is a bit sleezy....there is no *legal* reason why, if you want to pay me for it ;-) that I couldn't sell you the exact same "star-name" or "star" that I just sold to someone else.... or the same blade of grass... or the same molecule of air... or the same small crater on the back side of the moon... ad nauseum...because the whole thing is 'meaningless' anyway. Clear Skies, Tom W. It'd be hoot to see if anyone else has the same star from ISR. Lawsuit material? BV. |
#17
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International Star Registry -- or something like that
"Paul Schlyter" wrote in message
... In article , Alan French wrote: My wife and I picked out a star for ourselves - W Ursae Majoris - and had it engraved in our wedding bands (we were so worried about the spelling we missed noticing they got the wedding date wrong in my ring). It's easy to see with the naked eye, pretty easy to find, and seemed very appropriate. You could do the same thing, and it is quite easy to print up your own certificate or chart for yourself or a friend. It is also very inexpensive. I suppose the ISR sold it to someone long ago, but, tough, it's ours now. So how much do you charge others who want to look at W Uma ? g Paul, It's free, unless you are charging money for the look, then it's 20 percent of your net G. Clear skies, Alan |
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