1. What is star naming?
2. What makes naming a star with the USFI different from other providers?
3. But there are already names for stars!
4. Which names may be given to a star?
5. What if the name I want is already in use?
6. Are stars given multiple names?
7. Where are the names registered?
8. Will the name be used in astronomical catalogues?
9. How long does the name entry remain in the system?
10. Will the star belong to me?
11. Can I pick the star?
12. Can I select the constellation I want to choose my star from?
13. Is the star visible to the naked eye?
14. What are constellations?
15. What are binary stars?
16. What do the astronomical coordinates mean?
17. How do I locate the star I named?
18. Where does the star data come from?
19. Where can I order?
20. What is included with my order?
21. How long will delivery take?
22. Do you ship internationally?
23. How can I pay?
24. Why was my credit card charged by the USFI?
25. Are there any follow-up costs?
26. Do I have a right to return the product?

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1. What is star naming?
Star naming is the symbolic act of an exclusive gift idea - giving a real star a name of your choice. A high-quality, customized certificate documents your star and all important data. In this way you can give a loved one a star from the sky.

2. What makes naming a star with the USFI different from other providers?
Star selection
Going with the USFI gives you the chance to choose a star that stood directly above a certain point on Earth at a specific time. For example, you could choose someone's birthday, wedding, or any other point in time that means a lot to you. Please note that not all of our certified partners offer this service.
Star tracking
You don't need to be an astronomy expert in order to figure out where your star currently is. We will calculate your star's position for you at any time. Most of our competitors only give their customers a star chart, which to most non-experts is useless for locating stars. Please note that not all of our certified partners offer this service.
Star certificates
Our high-quality star certificates are printed on real photo paper (Fujifilm Crystal Archive paper), which gives your gift that extra sparkle.

3. But there are already names for stars!
That's correct. Over 300 stars already have popular names that can vary from country to country. These stars are in our database and can't be named. All other stars are only labeled with catalogue numbers.

4. Which names may be given to a star?
Apart from a maximum length of 64 characters, there are no restrictions. Anything is possible, and the decision is entirely up to you. Most customers choose the name of the gift recipient. Double names (for instance, as a wedding gift), nicknames, made-up names, or names with numbers are also possible.

5. What if the name I want is already in use?
You can still use the name of your choice. The name doesn't have to be unique, since stars are defined by their coordinates.

6. Are stars given multiple names?
Each star can be named by any one of our certified partners. You will have to ask them directly if they permit multiple names. This information will normally be available at their website.

7. Where are the names registered?
Every name is entered into our central registry that can be accessed at any time on the internet.

8. Will the name be used in astronomical catalogues?
No. Only the International Astronomical Union (IAU) can give official names to stars. This normally only happens when someone discovers a new star.

9. How long does the name entry remain in the system?
There is no expiration date for names that are entered into the system, so they will remain there indefinitely.

10. Will the star belong to me?
No. Since stars don't belong to anyone to begin with, it isn't possible to buy them. It's more a matter of the symbolic act you are expressing toward a loved one.

11. Can I pick the star?
It's possible to give your gift extra flair by making a personal selection. Our system can calculate which star was/will be at its zenith over a certain point on Earth at a certain point in time. Please note that not all of our certified partners offer this service.

12. Can I select the constellation I want to choose my star from?
If you don't want a specific star, then you can pick a constellation. Otherwise, the constellation will be determined automatically based on the star. Please note that not all of our certified partners offer this service.

13. Is the star visible to the naked eye?
That depends on the intensity and position of the star. Its intensity is referred to as magnitude. The lower the number, the brighter it appears to observers on Earth.
There are four different levels of magnitude:
Magnitude 4-5.9: visible to the naked eye
Magnitude 6-7.9: visible with a standard pair of binoculars
Magnitude 8-9.9: visible with a good pair of binoculars or a standard telescope
Magnitude 10-11.9: visible with a telescope
Naturally, the visibility of a star also depends on factors such as time of year, the weather, and whether there are distracting light sources nearby. Please note that not all of our certified partners offer stars at every level of magnitude.

14. What are constellations?
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has split the night sky into 88 units known as constellations. These have nothing to do with the constellations we know from horoscopes.

15. What are binary stars?
A binary star is a system consisting of two neighboring stars that orbit around their center of mass. They appear as one single light to the observer on earth.

16. What do the astronomical coordinates mean?
The equatorial coordinate system
Just as every point on Earth can be labeled with a latitude and longitude, any position in the sky can be identified with the astronomical coordinates "right ascension" (RA) and "declination (Dec). Right ascension corresponds to geographical longitude and is measured in hours (h), minutes (m), and seconds (s). Declination corresponds to geographical latitude. The magnitude (mag) measures the intensity of a star. The lower the value, the brighter it appears to observers on Earth.
The horizontal coordinate system
Since the equatorial system is not well-suited to locating specific stars, the horizontal coordinate system is used for this purpose.
The azimuth (Az) represents the angle around the horizon between the observer's line of vision and the north point. The altitude (Alt) is the angle between the object and the observer's horizon. We use these values for tracking stars because it makes for easy location.

17. How do I locate the star I named?
You can get information on the current position of your star anytime on the vendor's website. We will tell you exactly where your star is located and where you need to look. Our system houses all the necessary complex formulas and functions so that we can offer you this one-of-a-kind service. Of course, you could also use a standard star chart. But why all the hassle when it can be so simple? Please note that not all of our certified partners offer this service.

18. Where does the star data come from?
The data comes from official star catalogues. The USFI relies on a single catalogue to rule out the possibility of one star being given multiple names.

19. Where can I order?
You can order from any of our certified partners. A list of vendors is available here.

20. What is included with my order?
The delivery contains at least one certificate made with high-quality photo paper. We believe that a special gift calls for high-quality material, which is why you won't get a cheap printout from us. The certificate will contain at least one real photo of your named star as well as all important star data, including the constellation, the coordinates and the intensity of the star. The certificate will also include your name and a personal dedication of up to 3 lines with 80 characters each. Further products, such as star charts or posters, are available at an extra charge.

21. How long will delivery take?
If you placed your order before 3:00 pm, it should be sent on the same day. Your delivery will take 1-2 days inside Germany, 2-3 days within Europe, and 5-7 days for all other countries.

22. Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide.

23. How can I pay?
Your payment options depend on which partner you ordered from. Please inquire with them.

24. Why was my credit card charged by the USFI?
Credit card purchases will appear under the name USFI STAR NAMING / WWW.USFI.ORG. If you see this on your statement, then you have probably placed an order with one of our affiliate partners and chosen to pay via credit card. If this is the case, then your contract is with the USFI and the USFI will handle your payment. For questions, please contact us by email. Include the number from your order/invoice or your customer number.

25. Are there any follow-up costs?
No, none of our certified partners charge any additional costs or recurring fees.

26. Do I have a right to return the product?
The star certificate was prepared according to your wishes with great attention to detail. While we are not legally required to accept returns, many of our certified partners have a generous return policy. Please ask your vendor directly.