How to Buy a Star (And Is It Legitimate?)

Last Updated on Jan 23 2023

When we look into the night sky, we see just a sliver of the vastness of the universe. Stars, galaxies, planets, and so many other celestial bodies make us wonder if we’ll ever be able to visit them and build our own colonies. They may be too far away to explore in our lifetime, but is there another way we can experience this moment?

Actually, there is something you might be able to do to make your mark in space. As crazy as it sounds, you can buy your own star. There are some things we should go over though, such as the cost or if this is even a legitimate business. So, with that said, let’s get into the details and figure out whether buying your own is worth it!

Buying a Star

There are plenty of websites that sell a certificate to name your own star. For example, buyastar.org or starregistration.com offer services to name or “register” a star under your name. When it comes to the cost of owning your own star, it can seem as though the price isn’t exactly straightforward. How would one determine the price of a star? Well, many of these websites have a set price that they display for you to name one. 

Is It Legitimate?

Purchasing your own star and having it named after you seems like a cool idea and can be a way to feel a connection between you and your celestial companion. However, the reality is that the certificate that you get is simply a piece of paper with fancy writing. It doesn’t actually mean that you ‘own’ the star or that you can visit it as if it were a house. In fact, there is no law or regulation that makes a star officially under the ownership of any person.

Our overall thoughts are that these websites are not worth spending your hard-earned cash on. Even though your name might be on a paper, it isn’t as if scientists will use your name to identify a star, as most distant ones are given names that are a combination of numbers and letters. Theoretically, we can all claim a star or planet to be our own, but that doesn’t mean that it actually is. After all, stars are just massive balls of nuclear fusion, and these distant objects are unlikely to be traveled to in a single human’s lifespan.

In short, we think buying a star is illegitimate. 

Final Thoughts

In the end, we think it’s best to keep your money and save it for things that may give you an even better connection to what’s out there. Purchasing any of these certificates is essentially throwing your money in the trash can. A trusty pair of binoculars, a telescope, or an astrophotography setup can give you a deeper look into the night sky!  

You can also spend your nights laying in the grass looking up above without any equipment at all, and enjoy stargazing at its finest!

Featured Image Credit: Billion Photos, Shutterstock