What are my Payment Options?
- We accept bank deposits to Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) or Banco De Oro (BDO) for ease of transfer because of the wide availability of their branches.
- Credit card payments through PayPal even if you do not have an account.
When using these payment options, you are authorizing us to do a one-time charge against your credit card or checking account without your signature, as provided for under the mail-order regulations established by the Uniform Commercial Codes.
Credit Cards
Currently, we can accept credit card payments through PayPal. We are able to accept American Express, Discover/Novus, MasterCard and Visa. We do not make the final decision whether to accept or decline any credit card. We are just informed by PayPal if the payment was approved. This is for your peace of mind so you know that we do not handle any private information through our servers.
How are stars named?
In ancient times, stars that were visible to the naked eye were named in different languages by people from far-reaching parts of the world. All cultures created magical stories about the stars, and they were connected by their fascination for the night sky.
With the aid of the telescope, many more stars are now known, and even more are being discovered each day. These new stars are surveyed and located very precisely. Then they are given official identification numbers that are published in several astrophysical catalogs for astronomers, professional and amateur, world-wide. The International Astronomical Union names newly discovered celestial bodies such as comets and asteroids. The brightest stars have names, but most stars are merely listed in astrophysical catalogs by number. This number makes it easier to locate the star in the sky. Scientists would never be able to find “Aunt Martha’s Star.”
Name a Star offers a way for non-astronomers to show their love and respect to others by assigning the names of loved ones to stars – stars that are otherwise listed as numbers in Astrophysical Observatory Catalogs. We add your star names in the Record Book, which is listed with the United States Copyright Office. The Name a Star™ Record Book is updated and published periodically.
Is my star name authentic?
Name a Star does not claim to be the official star naming agency. Only the International Astronomical Union has the right to officially name celestial objects, such as comets and astroids. It uses numbers to locate and identify stars in the sky for scientific purposes.
Name a Star offers a way for non-astronomers to show their love and respect to others by assigning the names of loved ones to stars – stars that are otherwise only listed as numbers in Astrophysical Observatory Catalogs. We add your star names in the Record Book, which is listed with the United States Copyright Office. The Name a Star™ Record Book is updated and published periodically.
It’s unlikely that scientists will ever use our catalog, or that of any other star-naming company that uses names instead of numbers.
Astronomers will continue to use the various star numbering systems approved by the scientific community instead, including the Smithsonian catalog (our reference), the Messier catalog, the Hubble Space Telescope catalog, and others.
Name a Star uses the Smithsonian astrophysical catalog when assigning names to stars. Another star naming company could name the same physical star if they reference a different catalog using a different number. When Name a Star began in 1978, this wasn’t an issue because we were the only company in the business of naming stars.
This star name is a gift item, not a scientific designation – it is most meaningful to those who give and receive it. With Name a Star, it’s the
idea that counts… and the joy that comes from naming a star after someone and giving a little piece of heaven.
How do you select a star, and can I see it?
Some constellations are visible during certain time of the year, while some are visible all year round. We do allow you to specify a constellation. Simply place your order online and indicate your preferred constellation on the order form. Through survey, people in the
Philippines/Asia prefer using Zodiac signs of their birth months when choosing the constellation. If you don’t choose a particular constellation, we will choose a star that is visible from your location at the time of year in which you place your order.
We choose stars based on their magnitude, which is determined by the brightness and proximity to the earth; closer equals more bright and visible. The lower the magnitude, the brighter and more visible the star. Strange, but true – lower magnitude stars are actually brighter!
Name a Star uses the Smithsonian Catalogs of stars that have magnitudes of 10 or less. If you live in an area with low level light pollution, you should be able to view the star with a simple pair of binoculars or the naked eye. If the city or area you live in has more light pollution, you might need a small telescope.
Why is the star/constellation/zodiac sign not showing on my chosen birth-month?
It will not always show. Constellations appear on certain months of the year. Even though the Zodiac sign is typically “assigned” to a certain month, it doesn’t mean it will show on your side of the hemisphere. For such occasions, we include an extra hemisphere chart of when it’s best to look at the chosen constellation.
Can I choose my own star?
You can request a constellation when buying a star name. Simply indicate the constellation in the order form. We will do our best to find a star for you in that constellation. Click here to view the full list of constellations you can choose from. Some constellations might make the processing of the order take longer.
How much does it cost to buy a star name?
That depends on the package you order. Name a Star offers three Star Portfolio Packages:
•Standard Package – ₱3,500 (Shipping is Free)
•Ultimate Framed Package – ₱6,000 (Shipping is Free)
What does my Name a Star™ Package include?
That depends on which package you order:
•Our Name a Star™ Standard Package includes a certificate of registration, star maps, and much more.
•The Name a Star™ Ultimate Framed Package includes everything in the Standard Package, PLUS an extra Framed Certificate, a high powered celestial laser pointer and a CD with tips and software for easy viewing and learning. (We advise caution with the usage of the laser pointer. We require the laser pointer to be handled by a guardian if given to a child and always point it to the sky when in use.)
Are you still in Beta Stage?
Name a Star Ph is currently in beta. We are currently being rated by various independent agencies to judge our site content. We are also currently working on the security of the site with SSL.
How are Name a Star™ Packages shipped, and how soon will I get them?
Name a Star Ph ships your packages via FedEx/Air21. At times, we will use other couriers depending on availability and certain situations. We have worked with the top couriers for many years and have built a trust with their service. Shipping is free of charge throughout the Philippines.
Please take note– weekends and holidays are not considered “business” days when shipping but we will always make it a point to try our best to get it to you by the day after acceptance of payment.
Here are some additional shipping tips:
•We need 24 hours lead time to process your orders. Special constellations outside our current choices will need 8 business days as lead time.
•Please note that FedEx/Air21 does NOT offer Saturday Delivery to some addresses!
•We prefer not using the Philippine Post Office because it takes a longer time, from 3 days to a month
•FedEx/Air21 and other couriers do NOT guarantee delivery time but usually takes 1-3 days.
•Orders to other Asian countries will take longer to arrive.
•Weekends and holidays are NOT normal business days!
•We are not responsible for orders delayed due to weather conditions, labor strikes, unrest or carrier failure.
•When placing your order, we suggest you give us a business address to ship to for a more timely delivery.
•If you order more than one package, we will manually adjust them and ship them together unless stated otherwise.
Name a Star reserves the right to use an alternative shipping method that is less expensive then the method designated at the time the order is placed. We will notify customers if we feel a different shipping method is required.
If you are an overseas customer, we would gladly look for an alternative for cheaper shipping if FedEx is not acceptable for you (unless you specify otherwise or another company in the order form).
What is a Memorial Star?
We offer a special Name a Star™ Package as a Memorial to your loved ones. A Memorial Star is for someone who has passed away. We send a different letter with the portfolio and the star is placed in a constellation that is visible all year round. A Memorial Star is an extraordinarily powerful gift. The star’s continued presence in the Polar Sky helps keep memories alive with a simple upward glance on a starry night.
Do you have any affiliate companies that also register star names? Why should I pick your service?
No, we don’t – though other star registration companies use our trademark name in their web site copy and advertising campaigns. Please don’t confuse Name a Star with other star registration services. We truly are The Original Star Naming Service Since 1978®. We always strive to surprise you with our premium quality and services. We customized the packages for the local market to ensure the fast deliveries and peace of mind. Most importantly, we believe in offering you the best product possible for your happiest moments in life. It would be our honor to be part of your life long memories and we would want nothing more.
What if I made a mistake on my order when I buy a star name?
Don’t panic! It happens. If you catch the mistake when you read the confirmation e-mail or some time before the item is shipped, simply reply to us as soon as possible or before 9 a.m. the day after ordering. We’ll be glad to change your order. If you find a misprint on an order you’ve already received, contact us. We’ll reprint the package at no cost. If you made the error, we will only charge the shipping fee. If the mistake was ours, we’ll also pay for shipping.
How do I get the free Astronomy Software?
The great people at Google have developed free astronomy software that you can download to your own computer. Once the download is complete click on the Sky view button on the toolbar or go to the view menu and click “switch to sky”. You can then use the celestial address from your Name a Star Certificate or your star charts and the program will take you to a view of your star! Click here to go to the Google Earth website. Google Earth is not affiliated with Name a Star and provides their own support for this website.faqs