Notes from the registry.
Honest writing about galaxy dedications, star-naming services, astronomy gifts, and the surprisingly long history of selling people the universe.
- 2026-05-08
Is naming a star real? The honest answer.
What you actually get when you 'name' a star online, why no commercial service is recognized by the IAU, and the legitimate alternatives.
Read → - 2026-05-08
Online Star Registry vs. International Star Registry: which is real?
A side-by-side honest comparison of the four largest commercial star-naming services — what differs, what doesn't, and what they all share.
Read → - 2026-05-08
What does it actually mean to buy a galaxy?
Buying a galaxy is symbolic, not literal — but the symbolic part is what most gift services lie about. Here's the unfiltered version.
Read → - 2026-05-08
Galaxy vs. star: the difference explained for a 5-year-old.
A galaxy contains 100-400 billion stars. The Milky Way is one galaxy among two trillion. Here's what that actually means at human scale.
Read → - 2026-05-08
How to dedicate a galaxy in someone's memory.
Memorial galaxy dedications, what to write on the certificate, when to give one, and why families keep them displayed for decades.
Read → - 2026-05-08
8 honest alternatives to naming a star.
If you typed 'buy a star' into Google and felt suspicious about the results — you were right to. Eight gift options that actually outlast the certificate.
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