Since the late 1970s, “star registries” have sold name-a-star packages: a star is picked from a list, a certificate that looks official is printed, and it arrives by mail. Many such services are honest businesses selling keepsakes — but their language often leans on “registry,” “recorded” and “official” in a way designed to suggest more than what is there. And the star you receive is usually not decided by anything: it is assigned.
Our star is not assigned from a list — it is computed. The zenith of the moment and place of passing decides which real HYG-catalog star it is, and the same inputs always give the same star. You receive traceable IDs (HIP / Gaia), J2000 coordinates, distance and spectral type that go straight into Stellarium or any sky app. And the whole experience is built for this purpose: a 3D return to that night’s sky, a private memorial space, visibility kept over the years.
If what you want is a paper certificate with a famous-sounding name on it, a traditional registry is fine — they have been doing it since 1979. If what you want is to enter a real moment and get the real star that was there — verifiable, revisitable in 3D, designed as a memorial — that is what we built. Either way: ask any service the four questions from our honest guide. Including us.
| A Star Named | Traditional registries | |
|---|---|---|
| Star selection | Computed from your moment and place | Assigned from a list |
| Data you can verify | Public HYG IDs, J2000 coordinates and distance — check in any sky app | Varies; often no coordinates you can check |
| Official status | Stated plainly: not recognized by the IAU — on every page and certificate | Often implied through “registry”; rarely stated |
| What you get | 3D night sky, private memorial space, downloadable certificate | Mostly a printed certificate |
| Price | One tier, $19.99, digital, no add-ons | Tiers plus add-ons and shipping |
The star is real. The name is a memorial.
Everything else is packaging.