How long does it take to
receive the gift?
Orders leave within 48 hours of us
receiving them. Depending on the destination and the delivery option you
have requested, it would take a further 1 to 14 days. If you have any
concerns about delivery, please let us know when ordering. We can give
you an estimated time of arrival for your gift package.
Can delivery be specified for a particular
date?
Yes, it can, but there are risks involved.
Anything from human error (ie the courier has a mechanical breakdown) to
acts of god could cause a gift to miss the recipient on the specified
day. We prefer to have the package there earlier with a "Do Not Open
Until Specified Date" label attached. This generally heightens the
anticipation and success of the gift, and gives all concerned peace of
mind. This includes all of us here at the International Star Registry
Serbia Office. Our mission is not complete until the person you have
named a star for actually has the gift in their hands. We are not happy
until you are.
Are the stars visible to the naked eye?
Only 2873 stars are visible to the naked
eye. They are not available for naming because they already have
scientific and historical names. The stars available for naming through
ISR and bright enough to be seen with a small telescope (100mm or
4inch).
How many times are the stars named?
Each star is named once only and taken off
the availability list.
Can I buy a star?
No. 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. The stars are
recorded alphabetically rather than by size and location. The advantages
of registering stars in this manner are of both personal and historical
significance. Because the stars are listed according to the names
assigned to each, centuries from now our descendants will be able to
locate the names in the "Your Place in the Cosmos" series of hard cover
astronomy books, look up the name and find the star in the night sky.
And that is an amazing concept, isn't it?
What happens if my star falls out of the
sky?
If this should happen, and came to our
attention, we would most certainly name a new star for that person at
our expense.
What happens if the name has been used
before?
This works a little like a telephone book,
where you might have a number of people listed who have the same name.
You would be able to differentiate them by address and by telephone
number. Similarly, you might have any number of stars named "Judy". When
looking up the star named for your "Judy" in the relevant volume of
"Your Place in the Cosmos", you would seek the constellation and
coordinates of the star named for that particular "Judy" eg Judy, Leo
11h 38m 20s D 28° 28' . This would be a unique set of information, and
different from any other.
Can the name be for more than one person?
Yes. A star is often named for a couple, or
even a family or group of people. As long as the name is within the 35
characters limit (letters, numbers and spaces between the words counting
as characters).
Can I have two or more stars next to each
other?
Yes, if we are talking about being
optically close as seen from the earth. The real distance could be light
years apart. We keep records of all the star positions named through our
office. In most cases it is possible to name another star or stars in
close proximity according to the coordinates and position on the map.
Why must the date of registration be from
the current or the following year?
We appreciate that the meaning of the gift is greatly
enhanced by having a special day recorded on the certificate.
The name given to the star is registered as of the date
nominated by you. This could only be shortly before, on or after the day
you applied. As the star was not named prior to your application, it
would be deceptive and inaccurate to have a date from an earlier year.
To illustrate this, take the example of someone who
nominates 20 November 1950 as the date of registration, because the gift
is for a 50th birthday this year. The International Star Registry
started to archive starnames in 1979, so it did not even exist on the
aforementioned date. Therefore, clearly, the star could not have been
named from that day. The similar principle applies to dates after 1979,
because, although the International Star Registry existed, the star was
only named at the present time.
A solution for those wishing to incorporate an earlier
year is to include the desired date with the name, eg. 'Star of Elvis
Presley ~ 8.1.1935' (The name must remain within the 35 characters limit
- letters, numbers and spaces between the words counting as characters.)
Will a Starnaming that is dated forward be
registered now or when the date comes up?
Naturally most gifts are ordered in
advance. This way they are ready for presentation on the special day. So
it is normal practice to complete the starnaming ahead of time.
Registrations are forwarded to head office and processed on a monthly
basis. This means that if you name a star for a special occasion six
months in advance of the date, the star will already be registered by
the time you present it on the special day.
Can the name of the star be changed once it
has been registered?
Once the registration process has been completed, it is
not possible to change any of the details. The name will be attached to
the particular star and published in the next edition of the series of
books "Your Place in the Cosmos" registered with US Copyright Office in
Washington DC.
On the other hand, if a mistake has been made with one
of the details before it has been registered, a new certificate can be
issued. This would need to be brought to our attention immediately. They
would generally cover errors with dates or the spelling of a name. If
the error was on our part, then naturally there is no charge and a big
apology. Errors in the details submitted to us will carry charges for
the additional costs incurred in producing a new certificate of record
and delivery.
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