Sydney Observatory is temporarily closed for essential heritage maintenance works. During this time, we are currently resting the Name a Star program. Further updates about tours and viewings will be shared as this important heritage maintenance work progresses. Apologies for any inconvenience. All previously named stars remain in perpetuity in the Sydney Southern Star Catalogue. Subscribe to
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Today marks a milestone for Sydney Observatory’s Name-A-Star program as we ticked over our 3000th star!
Based on the Sydney Southern Star Catalogue (SSSC) compiled in the 1980s by observatory staff including our own Dr Nick Lomb, Curator of Astronomy, the catalogue contains approximately 29,000 stars in a torus near the south celestial pole. The Name-A-Star program was devised by Sydney Observatory staff along with colleagues at the Powerhouse Museum.
The funds raised have been put to good use and have enabled the purchase of a late 18th century Gregorian telescope from a Sothebys auction in London. The telescope now takes pride of place in the Transit of Venus exhibition at the observatory ready for the next transit in 2012!
Funds have also been put towards the re-instatement at Sydney Observatory of a third dome that was demolished in 1986.
The program caters for the most diverse range of occasions imaginable from births, weddings and even bereavement.
From January 2008 Name-A-Star became tax deductible making it even more desirable.
The RSAA Adopt-a-Star program successfully concluded on 31 July 2006. However, we will continue to maintain the list of adopted stars on our website.
For 9 years this program provided the public with memorable "gifts with a difference", tying sponsors names to stars that they "adopted" on the Stromlo Visitor Centre database. It also provided a source of income for the upkeep of the centre and its exhibits.
The program commenced in late 1997 and was operated over the years by Cas Margules, Kim Rawlings, Natalie Aked, and Fay Neil. Around 8000 stars were adopted, all of the ones visible to the naked eye from the southern hemisphere and many that are faint enough to need binoculars to find them.
With the lack of bright stars and the growing popularity of similar schemes run by other observatories, the decision was made to terminate the program in 2006.
If you are considering "puchasing" a star, you should read the fact-sheet at the Australian Astronomy web site.
Similar programs operating within Australia are:
- the Perth Observatory Star Adoption program
- the Sydney Observatory Name-a-Star program
Lists of adopted stars
Mount Stromlo Observatory would like to thank everyone who participated in the Stromlo Adopt-a-Star program for helping to raise funds for both our science education program and for the redevelopment of exhibits in the Observatory Visitor Centre.
Find an adopted star by clicking its constellation name below. The stars are listed with their brightness category and the name of the person who has adopted the star.
It is possible that there are names that were not added to this list: we lost many of our records and backup disks, particularly from before 2002, in the fires of January 2003. If you adopted a star years ago, please check that it is still there and let us know if it is among the missing so that we can update the list.
Last night on The Bachelor, Matty took Laura to the Sydney Observatory, and announced he had purchased a star.
We watched as Matty and Laura excitedly spotted their very own star through a telescope, which looked very much like a white dot in an expanse of 200 billion white dots – and just when we thought television couldn’t be any more compelling – they spent a number of minutes discussing what they should name it.
They settled on ‘Matora’, a piece of the universe that for only a small payment belongs exclusively to them.
You can’t touch it, or hang it on your wall, or wear it around your neck, but you know it’s yours and that’s all that matters.
You can read the recap of last night’s episode, here.
Goodness.
For $34.99, you can name a star in the Official Star Register.
You receive a personalised and official PDF certificate, a star map, and a complimentary photo book.
The International Star Registry advertises a star as, “one of the most thoughtful and unique gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, graduations…” and says it’s one of the fastest-growing gift ideas in decades.
You can buy twin stars, for the special price of $79.99, which is “the perfect way to recognise a connection between two people in life”. Unfortunately, it would seem Matty doesn’t get paid until next week, so could only afford the one.
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But here's the catch.
Matty said last night, "The name a star program gives us our own star!" but, well, that's not entirely true.
In the Frequently Asked Questions section on the International Star Registry website, it's explained; "The stars named through ISR are not 'owned', nor is their scientific identification altered. ISR enables individuals to name a real star for a person most appreciated by them. This astronomical listing is not scientific, but symbolic."
Which is fine.
But to be clear - Matty and Laura do not own a star.
As Laura was leaving the date she excitedly exclaimed, "You bought me a star!"
POST CONTINUES BELOW: Listen to our Bachelor podcast, Bach Chat.
Nope.
The only place that recognises 'Matora' is the International Star Registry or Name A Star. No astronomer or observatory anywhere in the world will ever refer to Matora.
It's entirely legal, of course. And for some it's a beautiful and touching gesture.
But just to be clear - for $34.99, you don't own a star.
You name a star. And astronomers did not just rewrite their star maps.