Register a Star for a Great Gift

Look up at the sky on any clear night, and you'll be able to see millions upon millions of beautiful, mysterious stars- burning orbs floating trillions of miles away from Earth. Stars have fascinated humans from the beginning of time, and space has been the inspiration for countless poems, novels, and scientific discoveries. With our universe so full of stars, it makes sense that most of them have no name-yet. This is where you come in: for a little money, you can literally name a star after you, a loved one, or even a pet. Here's how:

Find a Star-Naming Service Go to StarRegistry.com, Stardeed.com or Google "name a star", and you'll find lots of places where you can officially name a star. Star registries usually charge between $20-$60 per star, and for that you'll receive a framed certificate of "adoption", plus information on your specific star. Some sites offer a phone, fax, or mail order option as well.

Decide What to Name Your Star: Stars make great gifts for lovers, friends, co-workers, kids, and pets, and they're also a great way to honor a deceased loved one. You could directly name your star (ex: Marie) or you could name it with a phrase (ex: Marie's Star). You could even name it after your business or organization for some quirky publicity.

When to Give a Star: Stars are great for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and anniversaries. By naming a star, it won't just be named for your recipient; it will appear in textbooks, star maps, and astronomy literature with the name you gave it forever. You'll receive an official star registry certificate with the purchase of your star, so you can give your recipient the star documentation as part of his/her present.

Lasting Legacy of a Star Naming a star for a loved one is a unique gift that will always be remembered and appreciated. Stars, unlike humans, live for millions and millions of years, so your named star will be a legacy to someone you love after you're long gone.

View Your Star Most star certificates come with a user-friendly map so you can easily locate your star in space. If you have a telescope, you can check out your star more closely and show it off to friends and family.

Officially naming a star is a great opportunity for you to give to anybody as a meaningful and unique gift. Have fun choosing a name!