Buy a Star? on Dr.Pamela Gay web page?

[MikeinRI]

Well I'm not sure where I should post this?I think it falls into a few places to post,but it has to do with Bad Astronomy. If I recall right,Dr.Plait's 1st book(Bad Astronomy) pointed out that star naming was a fraud. That's why when I went to check on my other favorite star gazers web page I was shocked to see and advertising link to a so called "name your star" web page. I wont post the link here because I'm not sure that's allowed,and I do not want to upset anyone. I doubt Dr.Gay knows of this,I just wanted to point it out.Did anyone else see this?

PS
The company seems to go by Cosmic Territory Inc.

[hhEb09'1]

Welcome to BAUT! Thanks for not posting the link. :)

I'll check out Pamela Gay's website. It may be a bit of advertising in the rotation, I'm not sure how much control they have over that.

It's probably not a fraud per se (I'm not familiar with that one though), in that they pretty much do what they say they're going to do, but they don't do what you think they're going to do. :)

[stu]

Alright, Cosmic Territory is a bigger fraud than most, which use some language to get around the fact you're getting an expensive piece of paper.

This company, however, clearly states: "Unlike other companies that offer novelty items, we sell actual legal deeds. Upon purchase, you .. will be listed in our database as the sole owner of your real estate, be it a moon, star, or entire galaxy. Furthermore, because Cosmic Territory Inc. holds sole legal possession of these bodies, the transfer of ownership to you makes you the legal owner of these properties, as established by the 1967 Space Treaty."

This is wrong. The Space Treaty said governments can't own extra-terrestrial stuff. It is through governments that individuals are given the rights to property. They claim that they've just circumvented it, that individuals can just go'head and lay claim to everything.

And they charge through the nose for some of their stuff. Their stars are just $25 (compared with others that start at $50 or $60), but they're "selling" 1/50th of Io for $2,750USD.

You need to let Pamela know about this because I'm sure she'd be fairly irritated that an ad for them came up on their site. I'm sure she thinks that most people realize that this stuff is a crock, but because it's on her site (even though she didn't put it there), it lends some sort of credibility, just as you thought. I'm sure if you saw the ad elsewhere, you'd think it was a scam, but seeing it on her site made you question that.

And, because it's relevant, I figure I should plug my my blog post on, "Do NOT Buy the Stars." (http://pseudoastro.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/do-not-buy-stars/)

[George]

Darn, I was hoping she was selling star names. Why? Because I would love to see some astronomer like her offer a more honest naming service that simply provides buyers these star names with something astronomical looking that is clearly for entertainment and novelty value only.

Years ago, my wife bought me one 'cause she quickly realized just how much and I had gotten into astronomy. At first, I was a little dissapointed that she thought such a bogus purchase would please me, but then I recognized her sentiment and saw how nice it looked... so I bought her one, too. [Don't tell nobody. ;)]

If it were not for the fact that the star registration services suggest these star names have any scientific significance for astronomy or any other science, then it wouldn't be bad at all. Yet, I would be very pleased indeed to see someone like Pamela offer this as a way to fund their Astronomy Cast or other community service project. Why not?!

[stu]

I should clarify from my post: For a deed to be "legal," it has to be "legal" under a given legal system. Since the company is American, it has to be granted legality - ownership - by the US government. But because the Space Treaty says governments can't own anything off Earth, then neither can the private company.

I sincerely hope they get sued for every single cent they've made off this scam. And off their horrid flash-based website that makes me scroll around even though I'm on a 30" monitor.

[Chuck]

I see two ads on this page for star naming by two different companies. Now I'm confused. Which one owns the stars?

[nauthiz]

Now I'm seeing two ads at the top of this page that offer me the opportunity to name a star.

[Sticks]

I have sent Pamela a message about this via Facebook

[George]

Yikes! I thought it was one of the star outfits that do acknowledge that their star naming is not offical, except as entered into their fancy registry. But this one on her site is nuts...


Cosmic Territory, Inc. is a real estate company that has laid legal claim to thousands of pieces of real estate throughout the universe, some of which are currently for sale. Unlike other companies that offer novelty items, we sell actual legal deeds. Upon purchase, you (or whoever you purchase the real estate deed for) will be listed in our database as the sole owner of your real estate, be it a moon, star, or entire galaxy. Furthermore, because Cosmic Territory Inc. holds sole legal possession of these bodies, the transfer of ownership to you makes you the legal owner of these properties, as established by the 1967 Space Treaty.

They also have a link to the "1967 Space Treaty".


The 1967 Outer Space Treaty forms the basis for all global space law. Opened for signatures in January of 1967, the treaty attempted to, among other things, establish that no nation could lay claim to any celestial body. However, the treaty has not been ratified by any space-faring nation, and is thus negligible. This non-ratification afforded Cosmic Territory, Inc. the ability to gain legal access to certain celestial bodies. How can they claim they have legitimate legal rights to celestial objects? This is absurd. Are they not claiming that they have legal rights to sell based on the 1967 treaty, but then claim the treaty is not ratified, thus is null and void?

This is all the more reason why a legitimate astronomer or astronomical association should be doing this with the provision that the funds go to programs (not for personal gain, though expenses should be covered, of course).

[Chuck]

Maybe I could get in on some of this money. Anyone willing to buy a star would want to buy star insurance, right?

[hhEb09'1]

Maybe I could get in on some of this money. Anyone willing to buy a star would want to buy star insurance, right?Some sort of rider that guarantees your purchase money back if the property is not up to your standards when you go to inspect it? No questions asked.

[Chuck]

And if the star goes supernova and they file a claim, I'll point out that it actually exploded long before they bought the policy, and claim insurance fraud.

[NGCHunter]

Maybe I could get in on some of this money. Anyone willing to buy a star would want to buy star insurance, right?

Oh I have my own idea on how to make a nice little secondary market selling custom photos of stars that people think they own. Seems like most of the companies only give you a finder chart and certificate, not a photo. If I were desperate enough, I might do just that to make a little money on the side.

[NGCHunter]

Now I'm seeing two ads at the top of this page that offer me the opportunity to name a star.

I see three, and a fourth one warning me not to do it lol. Don't you just love contextual advertising?

[Chuck]

I see three star namers and "Ask a Lawyer". That seems appropriate.

[MikeinRI]

Well,I am glad I got some feed back on this post. Thank you all :)