Galaxy OriginsUpdated October 25, 2026.
Why the IAU does not do it
There are hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy alone, and astronomers need names that never change and never collide. So stars are known by catalogue numbers, and the IAU approves proper names only for a few hundred, mostly traditional names with a long history. It explicitly does not sell names and does not name stars after private individuals.
What a registry gives you
A registry gives you a certificate with a name and a chart. It can be a touching keepsake, especially as a memorial, as long as everyone understands it is symbolic. The star keeps its catalogue number in every real star atlas, app and database.
Ways to honor someone in the sky that are real
- The sky on their date. The stars and galaxies overhead at a birth, a wedding or a last day together are a fact you can show them.
- A telescope photograph. A framed photograph of a real object, matched to their date, is something they can look up and find exactly as described.
- A night out. Take them to a dark-sky park or a public observatory night.
Galaxy Origins matches the real galaxy that was overhead at a moment you choose and frames its telescope photograph with your dedication. The galaxy keeps its catalogue name.