This is a unique and symbolic gift service designed primarily as a fundraising platform for charity. When you make a donation, you get to choose a name for a specific star within our private, commemorative online registry.
Think of it as adopting a star in someone's honor. You receive digital documentation (depending on the package) and the star's details are searchable in our registry. It's a meaningful way to celebrate occasions or remember loved ones while supporting important causes.
No, absolutely not. This is crucial to understand. The naming is purely symbolic and commemorative, recorded only within our private registry.
The only internationally recognized scientific body responsible for naming celestial objects (stars, planets, asteroids, etc.) is the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU does not sell naming rights under any circumstances. Stars are typically designated by catalog numbers (e.g., HD 189733) or sometimes ancient historical names (e.g., Sirius, Polaris).
Our service provides a sentimental novelty gift and a way to donate to charity. It does not grant any official astronomical designation or ownership rights.
Our primary differentiator is our commitment to charity. 100% of the donation amount received via PayPal (after any standard PayPal processing fees) goes directly to vetted charitable organizations (you can find more details on our [link to a potential 'Our Impact' page if you create one]).
We aim for transparency and focus on the symbolic gesture as a means to support good causes. While other services exist, many operate on a for-profit basis. We prioritize the charitable impact.
Additionally, we offer:
iloveq for accessibility.It's straightforward:
iloveq for a free Basic registration, or leave blank.The locations are represented by real astronomical coordinates (Right Ascension and Declination) drawn from public star catalogs. However, the stars selected are generally not visible to the naked eye to ensure a vast pool of unique coordinates for our symbolic registry.
Here's how selection works:
Important: You cannot typically choose a famous, named star like Sirius or Betelgeuse through this service. Our registry uses coordinates for less prominent stars to maintain uniqueness for the symbolic naming.
All packages include the symbolic naming and registration in our searchable online database with a unique Star ID and location.
Remember, the prices are indicative donation suggestions. You can donate any amount via PayPal for any package (except when using the free code).
100% of the net donation (the amount we receive after any PayPal transaction fees) is directed to [**Specify the Charity/Cause Here - BE VERY CLEAR** - e.g., "registered wildlife conservation charities", "Doctors Without Borders", "a fund supporting local environmental projects"].
We are committed to transparency. We plan to publish periodic summaries of total donations received and disbursed on [**State Where - e.g., "a dedicated 'Our Impact' page on this website", "our annual report linked in the footer"**]. While individual donation tracking isn't feasible, these summaries will provide an overview of the collective impact.
We operate this platform as a non-profit initiative run by volunteers. No portion of the donation is used for administrative overhead beyond essential hosting costs covered separately.
Note: Replace the bracketed text above with your specific charity information and transparency plan!
This depends entirely on the legal status of the charity receiving the funds and the tax laws in your country of residence.
If the receiving charity [**Your Charity Name/Recipient**] is a registered non-profit entity (e.g., a 501(c)(3) in the US) recognized by your local tax authority, your donation *may* be tax-deductible. PayPal usually provides a receipt for your donation.
However, we cannot provide tax advice. Please consult with a qualified tax professional or the receiving charity directly to determine the tax-deductibility of your contribution in your specific situation.
We act as a facilitator for the donation; the deductibility is determined by the recipient charity's status and your local regulations.
Once your star is successfully registered, you will receive an on-screen confirmation which includes a direct link to your star's dedicated page (the `star_display.html` page). This link will contain the unique Star ID (e.g., `.../star_display.html?id=xxxxxxxx-xxxx...`). Bookmark this link!
Additionally, you can always visit our Star Registry page and use the search function. You can search by:
The Premium and Deluxe packages include access to a digital certificate in PDF format. This is not a physical item mailed to you.
Features:
We recommend printing on good quality paper or cardstock for the best appearance.
No, the symbolic naming and registration in our database do not expire. As long as this charitable project and its database are maintained, the record will remain accessible via the registry search and the star's unique ID link.
We apologize for any inconvenience!
We are volunteers, but we will do our best to investigate and resolve technical issues with the registration process promptly.
The iloveq promo code is a special code that makes the Basic Star Naming package completely free. When you enter this code on the naming form and click "Apply":
We offer this because we believe the symbolic gesture of naming a star should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to donate at a particular time. It's a way to share the joy while still raising awareness for our charitable mission.
Generally, once a star is registered, the details are considered final to maintain the integrity of the registry record.
However, if you've made a significant typo or error (e.g., misspelled the recipient's name), please contact us immediately via the contact form with the Star ID and the correction needed. While we cannot guarantee changes, we will review requests for obvious errors on a case-by-case basis and make corrections if feasible from a technical standpoint.
Changes to the fundamental star name or extensive changes to dedications are typically not possible after registration.
The coordinates (Right Ascension and Declination) serve several purposes within our symbolic registry:
Remember, these coordinates point to a real location in space, likely occupied by a faint star, but the *naming* itself is only recognized within our registry.
That's a great question! Exploring the real science of astronomy is fascinating. Here are some reputable resources:
We encourage you to explore these resources to learn about the incredible universe we live in!