What $19.99 Actually Gets You: Every Deliverable, in Plain English
No package in the mail, no hidden tiers: the four deliverables, what happens before and after payment, and an honest list of what you do not get.
One tier, $19.99, delivered digitally and live the moment payment clears: (1) a dedicated star page — coordinates, distance, magnitude and catalog ID, each independently verifiable; (2) a 3D return to that moment’s sky with a long-term visibility tracker; (3) a memorial space, private by default; (4) an instantly generated certificate PDF you can re-download anytime. No package in the mail, no hidden tiers.
The moment payment clears, you get four things
- A dedicated star page
- The star’s full identity in real astronomical data: catalog ID (HIP/Gaia), J2000 coordinates, distance and magnitude — each verifiable independently in software like Stellarium, not dependent on our word.
- A 3D return to that moment’s sky
- Open the star page and you are back in the sky of the moment they passed; a long-term visibility tracker keeps telling you when the star is up and which way to look.
- A memorial space, private by default
- Add their photo, light a candle, leave flowers, write a line meant only for you. Private by default — whether any link is shared with family is always your choice.
- The certificate PDF
- Generated instantly and re-downloadable anytime from My Memorial Stars. A4 landscape, ready for you to print and frame — nothing is shipped, which is part of how the price stays a single tier of $19.99. A printing note: A4 landscape, matte paper of 200gsm or heavier, borderless if your printer allows; any framing shop cuts to standard A4, and if it will sit beside a photo, check both sizes before you frame.
What exactly is printed on the certificate
From top to bottom: the name you chose; for memorial orders, their photo and life dates; the record of the moment (date, time, place and zenith); the star’s astronomical identity — Personal Star ID, catalog ID, RA/Dec, distance, spectral type, certificate number and issue date; and a QR code that opens the 3D star page. At the foot sits the line we never hide: “This naming is a commemorative gesture only and is not recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).”
What you do NOT get: the honest list
- An official naming right
- Not included — the IAU recognizes no commercial naming, and nobody can sell it to you. The name is a memorial gesture, and that line is printed on every certificate.
- Ownership of the star
- Not included — no star belongs to anyone. What you hold is a verifiable memorial record and certificate.
- Anything physical
- Not included — no mailed certificate, no keepsake box. The PDF is yours to print anytime; it also means delivery is instant, with no shipping to wait for.
- A promise that you will see it
- Not included — stars vary in brightness; some are naked-eye visible, some need binoculars or a telescope (see “Can You See Your Star?”). Your star page states which kind you have.
- Hidden charges
- Not included — no subscription, no upgrade tier, no “registration fee.” One payment; the only thing that ever changes a star’s assignment is a refund.
What happens before and after payment
Before paying: preview for free the real star nearest the zenith of that moment and place (the preview holds about 24 hours); if you order, the star slot is reserved for you for 7 days. After payment confirms: the star page, the 3D sky and the certificate PDF are generated immediately, and the certificate can be re-downloaded anytime from My Memorial Stars. It has no expiry — coordinates are recorded in J2000 and barely shift over centuries.
Refunds are spelled out too: this is digital content customised to your name and moment, so a change of mind is not covered; but if the certificate or star page does not match the description or has a quality issue, contact us — we fix it for free, or refund in full if it cannot be fixed, after which the star slot is released. Checkout is handled by Waffo Pancake as Merchant of Record, accepting cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and WeChat Pay.
FAQ
Will anything physical arrive — a paper certificate, a keepsake?
No — this is a purely digital delivery, with nothing shipped. The certificate is a downloadable A4-landscape PDF you can print and frame yourself; with no shipping, everything is usable immediately and the price stays a single $19.99 tier.
Can I re-download the certificate later? Does it expire?
Anytime. Sign in to My Memorial Stars and re-download — neither the certificate nor the star page expires; coordinates are recorded in J2000, and relative star positions barely change over centuries.
Will extra charges appear after I pay?
No. One tier, paid once: no subscription, no upgrade, no “registration fee.” The only way a star changes hands is a refund — after which the slot is released.