I've been hearing quite a number of ads on the radio lately encouraging people to try a unique and personal gift idea - naming a star. 

I scratch my head as I wonder exactly who came up with it.  I’m sure there are those out there who were ecstatic to discover this option in their gift-giving universe.  They are some of the same people who send you a card at Christmas saying they donated to the Human Society in lieu of sending you a gift.  I’m not saying that is always bad.  For some of our more distant friends or acquaintances, it is a nice gesture that they did anything for us at all. . .and a nice tax write-off for them. 

The star thing has me a bit puzzled, however.  From what I can tell, the process goes a bit like this:  You pick a 'star package' depending on how you want to make your presentation.  Most of these include a certificate of some kind, some an actual plaque, depending on price.  Then the star naming folks select a star from the night sky and 'dedicate' or name it for your gift recipient.

The certificate usually includes the location of the star and the name you gave it, along with a personalized message.  The websites who offer this service clearly state that you are not actually purchasing a star because they don’t own them, nor will astronomers or any official government agencies actually recognize the star as yours.  It is basically a nice gesture for a price. 

While I find the practice sort of corny, I can’t help wishing I’d been the one to come up with it.  Think about it, these companies are basically selling something that they didn’t have to purchase and making quite a lot at it.  As for me, if the urge to name a star should strike me, I will simply walk onto my back porch, pick a star from the sky and say "I shall call you George".

Posted by Jennifer.