The Illusion of Forever: Why You Can’t Actually Name a Star After Your Valentine
With Valentine’s Day approaching, the allure of a grand, cosmic gesture – naming a star after a loved one – is strong. But despite the promises of numerous online services, the reality is that these starry dedications hold no official weight, and the sky, as one authority puts it, “is not owned by anyone.”
The Rise of Commercial Star Naming
A quick online search reveals a thriving market for star-naming services, often offering certificates and star maps for a fee, starting around A$40. These companies capitalize on the desire for a unique and lasting expression of affection. However, a closer look reveals a significant caveat: these names are not recognized by the astronomical community.
The Official Record: How Stars Really Get Named
According to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Working Group on Star Names, the sole body responsible for officially designating stellar names, the practice of purchasing a star name is largely symbolic. The IAU emphasizes that while individuals can record names in private databases, these have no scientific validity. “Stars can only have one, official proper name,” explains the group, citing examples like Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Polaris.
The process of official naming is steeped in history and culture. Currently, fewer than 600 stars have proper names out of the more than one billion identified by astronomers. The IAU Working Group on Star Names maintains an up-to-date list, with the most recent additions occurring on December 25, 2025. The group often incorporates public input, but typically focuses on names rooted in historical and indigenous constellations. A recent example is “Sarvvis,” a name used by the Sami people of Northern Scandinavia.
The Problem with Popularity: A Star Named Many Times Over
The sheer volume of customers purchasing star names creates a logistical impossibility. Many websites boast hundreds of thousands of “satisfied customers,” leading to a situation where a single star can be assigned dozens, even hundreds, of different names. As one observer noted, “It’s a smidge less romantic when your Valentine’s name is the 20th, or even 100th, name for a star.”
Beyond Proper Names: The World of Stellar Designations
Astronomers rely on a more precise system of designations – unique combinations of letters and numbers – to identify stars. These designations are crucial for cataloging and surveying the cosmos. While most stars lack a proper name, all known stars have at least one designation.
Consider Sirius, which boasts over 60 designations, including 2MASS J06450887-1642566, HIP 32349, and CNS5 1676. These codes aren’t arbitrary; “2MASS” indicates the star was observed by the Two Micron All-Sky Survey in infrared, while “HIP” refers to data from the European Space Agency’s Hipparcos mission. The numbers themselves often represent coordinates or unique identifiers within specific catalogues.
New Discoveries, New Designations
Astronomers are constantly discovering and cataloging new celestial objects, leading to the creation of new designations. One astronomer shared how they assigned the designation MKT J170456.2-482100 to the star TYC 8332-2529-1 after detecting it with the MeerKAT telescope. In this case, “MKT” signifies “MeerKAT,” and the numbers denote the star’s coordinates at the time of discovery.
The IAU’s guidelines strictly prohibit naming stars after commercial interests, political figures, military entities, or even pets. Official naming is reserved for historically and culturally significant names. Even public naming campaigns typically focus on stars too faint to be seen with the naked eye. A recent example is “Siwarha,” a name suggested by the discovery team for Betelgeuse’s companion star, meaning “her bracelet.”
A Romantic Alternative: Gaze at the Officially Named Stars
While you can’t officially name a star after your Valentine, you can plan a romantic evening of stargazing and point out the officially recognized stars visible at this time of year. In Australia, Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Rigel are all readily visible in the early evening on Valentine’s Day.
