Stellar Flimflam

Just when I think they've gone out of business, there they are on the radio again - the "International Star Registry", offering to let you name a star in honor of a loved one for the unheard of low price of $54 (of course, if you really care to send the very best you can spend $139.00 plus shipping and handling for the ultimate star naming package). True adherents to Barnum's "there's a sucker born every minute", these folks offer to give you a certificate declaring that some obscure star in the heavens is named after you. Of course somewhere in the small print it's stated that no one really will know that it's "your" star - they'd be locked up for fraud if they didn't.

Why should I care? Because as an amateur astronomer, when doing street corner astronomy or outreach, we inevitably come across someone who has purchased a star and wants to see it. We're left with two choices - perpetuate the illusion or break it to them gently. I'm left to clean up the mess. So when the holidays come and these hucksters emerge from the woodwork hawking their modern day snake oil my stomach tightens into a bit of a knot.

Do me a favor - if you know anyone who's even thinking about doing this folly - please enlighten them their $54 really will mean more if donated to a worthwhile charity in the loved one's name rather than purchasing a piece of paper from this outfit.