Editing Stellar designations and names (section)

== Sale of star names by non-scientific entities==

Star naming rights are not available for sale via the IAU or any other scientific body. Rather, star names are selected on a non-commercial basis by a small number of international organizations of astronomers, scientists, and registration bodies, who assign names consisting usually of a Greek letter followed by the star's constellation name, or less frequently based on their ancient traditional name.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/#stars| title = Naming of Astronomical Objects}}</ref>

However, there are a number of non-scientific "star-naming" companies that offer to assign personalized nicknames to stars within their own private catalogs.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.starregistry.com/faq#collapsetwen7 | title = ISR FAQ}}</ref> These names are used only by that company and are only available for viewing on their web site or on purchased items. Names by commercial entities are not recognized by the astronomical community, or by competing star-naming companies.<ref name="IAU_buy_a_star_name">{{cite web
| url=http://www.iau.org/public/themes/buying_star_names/
| title=Buying Stars and Star Names
| first=Johannes
| last=Andersen
| publisher=[[International Astronomical Union]]
| access-date=2013-06-04}}</ref> The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs has issued violation notices against companies which claimed to sell stars or the naming rights to them.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.almanac.com/can-you-really-name-star | title = The Business of Buying a Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/12/02/buying-a-star-for-a-holiday-gift-is-like-throwing-money-into-a-black-hole/ | title = Buying a star for a holiday gift is like 'throwing money into a black hole'| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> A survey conducted by amateur astronomers discovered that just over half of consumers would still want to "name a star" with a non-scientific star-naming company even though they have been warned or informed such naming is not recognized by the astronomical community.<ref name="Buying stars">{{cite web
| url=http://www.delscope.co.uk/astronomy/namingstars.htm#surveyres
| title=Naming and Buying Stars: What you should know
| first=Derek
| last=Haselden
| publisher=Solent Amateur Astronomers
| access-date=2020-08-24}}</ref>