While I was sitting around, not doing my Astronomical Data Analysis techniques assessed problems, I for some unknown reason started thinking about the issues of naming stars. In the past stars were named after gods and imagery. On occasions stars are named after people, such as Barnard's Star. This does not happen often though. Astronomers prefer to use catalogue numbers since it is much easier to use. Obviously names are appropriate for the brightest stars. I can imagine standing with a group of people observing and saying "look that's HIP 27989!". I am sure no one would be at all impressed but if I said "look that's Betelgeuse!" I am sure I would get a better response.
This actually brings me on to my little rant - star naming companies. If they are trying to pass on that naming the star is more than a novelty item then they are fraudsters. I can see that this would be a nice novelty gift but a word of warning to anyone thinking of actually purchasing the rights to a name - IT MEANS NOTHING! It will not be recorded anywhere apart from in the naming companies database. No Astronomer (amateur or professional) will ever use it. You are not likely to EVER see it. It is bound to be a star which is too faint to see with your eye and also very hard to see with a telescope. To see it you are bound to have to be a skilled amateur astronomer. So please don't do it if you really think you have named that star. If you want to spend money on this as a novelty then I am sure it would make a good present to the right person. Rant almost over :-)
The only people who can name stars are the International Astronomical Union . Oh a good rant on this topic can be found at http://www.enzerink.net/peter/astronomy/starfaq/. So I think star naming = fraud. Maybe time the astronomical community took action.
