International Star Registry

The International Star Registry (ISR) is an organization founded in 1979, which sells the right to unofficially name stars. Products and services are often marketed as gifts or memorials since the scientific organization International Astronomical Union serves as the only internationally recognized authority for naming celestial bodies.

International Star Registry
TypePrivate
IndustryMarketing
Founded1979 (1979)
FoundersIvor Downie
ProductsCertificates, kits
ServicesUnofficial star naming and registration
Websitewww.starregistry.com

History

International Star Registry of Illinois was started in Toronto in 1979, by Ivor Downie. John and Phyllis Mosele bought an American franchise of the company, then purchased sole ownership in 1981 after Downie's death.[1] The International Star Registry is thought to be the earliest commercial star naming company. The company claims to have named about 3 million stars since its formation, and to have published these names in a series of books. The present owner of the company is Rocky Mosele, one of John and Phyllis Mosele's twelve children.[2][3] The company has published nine large volumes of the copyrighted book named Your Place in the Cosmos.[4][5]

Business

Products and services are often marketed as gifts or memorials. Packages sold by the company include framed and unframed certificates and personalized jewelry identifying "naming" of a star as described in the book, Your Place in the Cosmos.[6] The text of the certificates, with its blank spaces filled in by hand, is:

Know ye herewith that the International Star Registry doth hereby redesignate star number _____ to the name _____. Know ye further that this star will henceforth be known by this name. This name is permanently filed in The Registry's vault in Switzerland and recorded in a book which will be registered in the copyright office of the United States of America.

Naming services are limited to an entry in the book and carries no scientific or official authenticity according to professional astronomers.[7][8][9][10][11] International Star Registry does not openly recognise this on their website.[12]

False advertising

In 1998 the International Star Registry was issued a violation by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs for deceptive advertising for claiming "official" naming rights.[13] International Star Registry have since ensured in their FAQs that their customers are fully aware only the International Astronomical Union has the right to name stars. This has not stopped other star naming companies from setting up similar registries and selling similar products.[12]

Bibliography
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume I. Total Pages 530; ISBN 0961435402
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume II. Total Pages 508; ISBN 0961435410
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume III. Total Pages 388; ISBN 0-9614354-2-9
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume IV. Total Pages 502; ISBN 0-9614354-3-7
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume V. Total Pages 680; ISBN 0961435445
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume VI. Total Pages 717; ISBN 0-9614354-5-3
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume VII. Total Pages 773; ISBN 0-9614354-6-1
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume VIII. Total Pages 652; ISBN 096143547X
  • Your Place in the Cosmos, Volume IX. Total Pages 943; ISBN 0961435488

See also

References
  1. Zorn, Eric (29 December 1989). "Now, Wishing Upon A Star Gets Personal". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  2. "Reaching For The Stars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  3. "International Star Registry About" ()
  4. LC Online Catalog - Item Information (Full Record). catalog.loc.gov. 1985. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. Your place in the cosmos: a layman's book of astronomy and the mythology of the eighty-eight celestial constellations and registry. Open Library. 1 January 1985. OL 2873475M.
  6. "International Star Registry Products" ()
  7. Bob Berman (2003). Strange Universe: The Weird and Wild Science of Everyday Life--on Earth and Beyond. Henry Holt and Company. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-8050-7328-7.
  8. ISR FAQ, FAQ from International Star Registry
  9. Di Justo, Patrick. "Buy a Star, But It's Not Yours". Wired Magazine. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
    Robert Naeye, editor of Mercury Magazine, a publication of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, puts it in no uncertain terms:
    "The star names sold by the International Star Registry are not recognized by any professional astronomical organization.     {{cite journal}}: External link in |quote= (help)
  10. Philip C. Plait (2002-03-05). Bad Astronomy. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-40976-6.
  11. "The OFFICIAL Star Naming FAQ" (archived at Internet Archive
  12. "International Star Registry FAQ" ()
  13. Plait, Phil (18 February 2012). "International Hollywood Star Registry". Slate. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.