Can you actually buy and own a star?

Question

Are there websites where you can actually own the star not just in name but if we were able to visit it would it actually be your's and you can do what ever to it?

Answer 1

No.



Actually, that is "forbidden" by international law. NO ONE can "own" another natural cosmic object like a star or a planet, or claim a piece of the moon. The idea of planting a flag actually means NOTHING.



These website that allow you to "buy" a star or name a star after your BFF this month are only a little bit better than hoaxes. MOST of them will tell you, if you ask them directly, that you are not actually buying the star, and that the name you give it is ONLY on a piece of paper that they print using a laser printer in the office. They will explain to you that you are buying a "novelty gift" (sometimes called a "gag gift", and that your purchase offers NO legality of any kind.



I;ve seen one website that claims "You name will be recorded in the Library of Congress!" BFD! Almost every book in the United States is in the Library of Congress! In truth, this means nothing.



Of course, any group which tells you that this is all true, that you actually OWN something, or that you can make a legal claim against it IS LYING TO YOU, and you need to avoid them completely.



SO, knowing all this is really a hoax, I'll admit that it IS a cute idea -- if you're 15-year-old lovesick teenager. So, if you WANT to spend your money this way -- go ahead. it is NOT illegal, and so long as you understand it is a HOAX, then have fun.



As a note, the ONLY ones who can truly NAME a star or planet or comet is the International Astronomical Union (IAU) -- the same people who declared that Pluto is no longer a planet. THEY keep all the necessary records, and the very rarely take suggestion. Instead, they use a numbering system that is based on either the date or year of the new objects discovery. personal names are very rarely used, but Comets are sometimes named after the people whop found them, like Halle-Bopp that crashed into Jupiter

Answer 2

The answer is an emphatic No!!! These websites are Scams.



Back in the 1970's, a company called the International Star Registry started advertising claims that for a fee you could name a star, for instance, after a loved one who has passed away, or as a Romantic gesture to a partner, even your pet rock if you preferred. They would then give you a certificate with the coordinates of the star either you had chosen or they chose for you.



Since then, dozens of similar companies have joined in on the scam. If they presented a star chart and a few other mementos along with a very clear concise "For Novelty Purposes Only" maybe it would be acceptable. But they do not- they claim these star names are official. One of the things they do to dupe people into believing so is copyright their star name lists- something which anyone can do, but it means nothing. Only the International Astronomical Union, the body of astronomers who gave the stars their designated names, as well as made other determinations such as reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet, has the authority to name stars. Since they issued their list decades ago, they have named no stars.



In one case only, the CEO of one of the companies was briefly imprisoned for fraud, but enforcement against them has been lax. As an astronomer, I occasionally met people on public nights who proudly displayed their certificates and requested to see the star- sometimes, the designation itself was fabricated! Maybe I'm a Buzzkill, but I felt compelled to explain that it was a fraud. Now there is yet another company claiming they fund real space exploration and they will launch their list into space! Fraudsters always up the ante.



Why not read the IAU's own explanation of the fraud:



https://www.iau.org/public/themes/buying_star_names/



PS: A lot of people say it's fine, they like the gesture anyway and it's worth the $50 or so. But why not just make your own certificate? A scam is a scam.

Answer 3

"Owning" a property or land (ie. a star), raises an interesting question. Go back far enough and nobody really thought about owning land. (How can anyone actually own a piece of dirt - it makes no sense). In feudal times land got owned because some bloke had a bigger stick than you did. Then they offered to house and "protect" those who didn't have a big stick, in return for work. Hello the serfs.

Answer 4

No one has the sole, legal authority to sell ownership rights on celestial objects.



Although the Outer Space Treaty prohibits governments from owning celestial objects, some of these websites will argue that the treaty doesn't prohibit private individuals from doing so. However, the treaty does state that in order for any such sale to be legal, it would require authorization by the government of the entity making the sale. So, if a company located in the U.S.A. is trying to sell you a star, you would have to get the United States government to authorize the sale in order for you to legally own it. In order to even hope to get such an approval, you would have to demonstrate an "intent to occupy", meaning you would have to prove you can travel to and occupy the star, planet, moon, asteroid, empty space or whatever else it might be (of course, this is all in assuming the selling entity even has the authorization to sell such properties to begin with).



In the best case, the only thing you're buying from these websites is a CHANCE to ATTEMPT ownership, which in reality will never be achieved because no individual can truly demonstrate an "intent to occupy" and no government has ever granted anyone legal ownership of a celestial object.



In the worst (and most likely) case, you're simply being scammed and panhandled out of your money.



Other entities that offer "adoption" of celestial objects are often just charity/fund-raising causes that are simply providing a cheap novelty document that has no legal standing in exchange for your financial support.

Answer 5

No. You'd be laughed out of court if you tried to assert your rights over an object that's 5000 light-years away. And exactly WHAT would you do with that star if you actually could own it? Blow it up? Good luck with that.



Why would you want to "own" something that you could never get to. anyway? It's not like a cabin on a lakeshore. Stars can be nasty things - full of radiation that could ruin your day.

Answer 6

No.



You can go there and claim a star (and, more importantly, the planets around it) and it will remains yours until someone comes along and takes it from you (therefore, bring big guns).



By treaty, none of the spacefaring nations on Earth are allowed to defend your claim of ownership.



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The companies that "sell" stars, do not own them in the first place (therefore, by law, they cannot sell them). However, if you willingly give them money for a piece of paper claiming they sold you a star, then that is what you get: a piece of paper.

Answer 7

Actually by Law no, you cannot own any thing in space, however you can adopt a start. They will send you a picture of the actual coordinates along with a few other things.

Answer 8

Hmm? Well, that would be a little bit vanity. What could you do with it? You'll NEVER go there, you can only look at something that occurred, at best 4 years ago for the very closest of stars.

Answer 9

Nobody can legally sell something they don't actually own. These websites are about as legit as those turn-of-the-century hucksters in New York who'd try to sell the Brooklyn Bridge to tourists.

Answer 10

You can have a star named after you, but you can't OWN a star. We don't actually know what's out there is the thing. There are likely advanced beings beyond our wildest dreams who are managing the far reaches of space.

Answer 11

They'll happily take your money and print you off a certificate but it won't be official with the International Astronomical Union - the international group that decides celestial names. Same goes for any group trying to sell lunar or Martian land. It's meaningless and they're just taking your money.

Answer 12

Sure - and if you've got any money left over I've got few items I could sell you:-



- the Taj Mahal

- a pair of pink unicorns

- a fragment of the True Cross

- the secret of eternal youth

- a map showing the location of Atlantis

- a recording of Adolf Hitler singing 'Jailhouse Rock' accompanied by Mother Teresa on harmonica

Answer 13

Hypothetically if you claim an ownership to a star and could travel there and defend it from any invaders. Technically it's yours, that's how the Americas was claimed in the first place.

Answer 14

Sorry, ..., its a complete and utter scam. Only the IAU has the ability to name astronomical bodies and features.



What you pay for is the right to be on a list. Many times the coordinates that they send back to you are incorrect or the star is so faint that you could never see it a telescope.

Answer 15

You can purchase a star, and rename it - but it's unofficial... 'Star Registry' is one such outfit - they'll mail you a star map with a certificate & one of the small stars circled - and it means as much as a three-dollar bill.

Answer 16

How can you buy and own something that's in outer space? Are you like an astronaut or some kinda sh*it?

Answer 17

No as nobody owns the stars so they can not sell them to you.

People can how ever get a star named after them !

Answer 18

It has been done, but consider no one previously owned a star that would give them the right to sell same.

Answer 19

The big movie studios used to own stars, but those days are long past.

Answer 20

You can adopt a star. Technically no one can own anything in space, it would violate the Outer Space Treaty. I adopted a star and I got a picture frame with the coordinates to the star, the name and a small poem.

Answer 21

I own four Bronze Stars but I did not pay for them nor were they free - I earned them the hardest way possible.

Answer 22

Discover a star and you can name it, that's the closest you'll come to owning one.

Answer 23

>> ... if we were able to visit it

Yeah, if you could visit it, then you could say you own it. At least until somebody with bigger guns shows up. This has nothing to do with buying a star. Only your mother a few friends will recognize the star as yours.

Answer 24

Is there an astrological org that decides on star names? Is this Nasa? Ask them

Answer 25

You can own and buy all the stars if you have MONEY.

Answer 26

Outer Space is everyone's space

Answer 27

Claim any star you take a fancy too. Then scoff at anyone who says otherwise. I hear a "Pee" followed by a short string of "efs" and rounded off with a "tee" is very effective.

Answer 28

No, they are fraudulent. You might be lucky and get a pretty certificate that means nothing, like a share certificate in a busted company.

Answer 29

That's impossible. Those websites are scams to fool saps like you.

Answer 30

No you are only buying you a space on somebodies contrived "ownership list"

Answer 31

No, it won't be recognized as property, besides what are you gonna do, fly out there and bring it home?

Answer 32

No. No one owns the stars .

These are more or less " joke " gifts .

Answer 33

Nope , you can tack your name on it if it is not yet named. No chance that any alien civilization will accept that name.

Answer 34

I'm afraid not no. Nothing more to be said.

Answer 35

Sure, but your property taxes will soar astronomically.

Answer 36

Nope, but on the other hand, how can we own land?

Answer 37

you most certainly can. i'll be happy to sell you one. how much money do you have?

Answer 38

Its a hoax

Answer 39

Yes, but it is cash-on-delivery, and just where would you keep it?

Answer 40

Sure. Trump did.

Answer 41

No. But if yes, you need to think about the tax;))))))

Answer 42

No kidding angry is your asking.

Answer 43

Hell no! What are you thinking? LOL

Answer 44

No, it is a scam

Answer 45

D

Answer 46

No.

Answer 47

No.