Can you name an asteroid for 260 yuan? Expert: Commercial Naming Blasphemy Scientists Research Customer Service | International | Number | Own | Discover | Stars | Asteroids | Naming

On July 21st, the Yangtze River Daily WeChat official account reported that in tribute to the contributions made by renowned scholar Fan Jinshi to Dunhuang research, an asteroid with the international number 381323 has been named "Fan Jinshi Star"; Professor Zhang Hao from China University of Geosciences recently received an asteroid name, with asteroid number 34714 named "Zhang Haoxing"

On July 10th, Fan Jinshi received the "Fan Jinshi Star" naming certificate. The naming of asteroids has seriousness, uniqueness, and permanent immutability, making it a globally recognized noble honor. Recently, a reporter from Changjiang Daily came across a purchase link while searching for planet naming information - "Naming a star, a gift from the universe.". After clicking on the link, the reporter found that you only need 260 yuan to have the naming rights for a star.

Can you buy star naming rights online?

The reporter saw that there are various types of star naming rights sold on a certain shopping platform, with prices ranging from 260 yuan, 299 yuan, 399 yuan, 499 yuan, 568 yuan, 699 yuan, 768 yuan, 999 yuan, 1299 yuan, and other different price points. The more expensive the price, the brighter the stars, and the more exquisite the accompanying photo frames and certificates.

Merchants selling star naming rights online advertise with the slogan "permanently registered on NASA's official website.".

A promotional poster from a merchant claims to be "permanently registered on NASA's official website" and "globally certified as a visible app". When the reporter asked customer service if they could check on the official website of NASA, they were hesitant to respond directly.

Merchants selling star naming rights online are promoting "global certification".

One customer service representative told reporters that there are a total of 88 astronomical constellations in space. After customers make payment, they can only choose the constellations, and the merchant will randomly select a star from the constellations to name the customer. Afterwards, customers can enter the code in the client provided by the merchant to view their own stars.

According to customer service, their business is selling well worldwide, and many fans will purchase stars to give to their idols. The customer service representative said that a popular female celebrity has names for hundreds of stars, "all of which were bought by fans with money from us.".

Is it reliable for individuals to spend money online to buy star naming rights? This is not only a question from reporters, but many netizens are also asking: who would approve of stars that are bought with money?

Some netizens said in their comments that this is the "romantic tax", acknowledging that only you are the one who names the stars after you. Some netizens have also bluntly stated that buying the naming rights for stars is like pointing to a cloud in the sky and saying, "This cloud will be called Li Goudan in the future.".

The reporter noticed that the official science popularization micro platform of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, "Academy of Science", mentioned in an article that the stars to be bought are not good stars. The article states that all star naming rights that can be purchased in the market are merely entertainment commercial activities.

Asteroid naming rights cannot be sold

Professor Zhang Hao from China University of Geosciences mentioned in an interview with Changjiang Daily that he had also seen links selling star naming rights online, saying, "Everyone buys them for fun.".

At present, the naming rights of asteroids belong to discoverers or discovery institutions, but neither discoverer nor institution can sell the naming rights of asteroids.

Taking the naming process of "Fan Jinshi Star" as an example, "Fan Jinshi Star" was discovered by the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on October 9, 2007. The International Astronomical Union gave it a permanent number in December 2013, and confirmed that the Zijinshan Observatory has the right to name the object.

In 2020, the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences applied to the International Astronomical Union to name the asteroid numbered 381323 "Fan Jinshi Star", which was approved on May 14, 2021.

Unlike the naming process of "Fan Jinshi Star", "Zhang Haoxing" was recommended by a foreign astronomy professor to the International Astronomical Union.

Introduction of "Zhang Haoxing" by the International Astronomical Union.

Behind the seemingly uncomplicated naming process, it actually takes decades of effort from astronomers. Currently, only asteroids among various celestial bodies can be nominated according to the discoverer's wishes, and are internationally recognized celestial bodies approved by the International Astronomical Union.

The first step in naming an asteroid is to discover one. When an observer first observes an asteroid for two consecutive nights, they can send the results to the International Astronomical Union, and the asteroid can receive a temporary name.

In the coming period, if asteroid orbit data can be observed in four regression cycles, the asteroid will receive an international permanent number, which will be published in the International Asteroid Bulletin. The discoverer can submit a naming request.

In February this year, Fu Xizhe, a student of the First Affiliated Middle School of Central China Normal University, discovered an asteroid and received a confirmation certificate from the International Astronomical Union. Fu Xizhe explained that receiving the confirmation certificate only gave the asteroid a temporary number. If everything goes smoothly, it will take about 6 years to obtain the official number and the right to be named.

Who can name an asteroid

Luo Xingbo, an associate researcher of the Humanities School of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, once wrote an article explaining that the naming of asteroids follows the rule of who finds who has the right to nominate, and is generally awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions in a certain field, or institutions, place names, events, and other objects that the discoverer wishes.

In 1928, modern Chinese astronomer Zhang Yuzhe discovered asteroid 1125 and later named it "Zhonghua". This was the first asteroid discovered by the Chinese people.

According to incomplete statistics, there are over 80 asteroids named after Chinese elements, as stated in an article by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in March 2021.

Naming asteroids is the most familiar way for scientists and scholars, such as "Yuan Longping Star", "Wu Meng Superstar", "Tu Youyou Star", and so on. Asteroids named after famous ancient figures are also used, such as "Zhang Hengxing", "Zuchongzhi Star", "Confucius Star", "Laozi Star", "Sima Qian Star", and so on.

Writer Jin Yong, singer Jay Chou, director Tsui Hark, and actor Lin Qingxia have also been selflessly given asteroid names by astronomy enthusiasts.

Zhang Hao told reporters that the recommended asteroid naming objects at home and abroad may vary. Among the 196 people who received asteroid names along with Zhang Hao, 80% of them were young people born in the 1990s, mostly in the field of astronomy or asteroid research.

The reporter noticed that in addition to being named after people, there are also multiple asteroids named after Chinese place names and cities. For example, asteroids named after provincial administrative regions include "Shandong Star" and "Jiangsu Star". The asteroid number of "Hubei Star" is 2547, and the asteroid number of "Wuhan Star" is 3206.

Naming asteroids without commercial activities

Staff members of the Asteroid Naming Committee at the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have revealed that as the influence of asteroid naming expands, some domestic industry professionals have voluntarily invested in the observatory in exchange for asteroid naming, but they have all been rejected. A well-known mainland celebrity has approached the Purple Mountain Observatory several times, hoping to name an asteroid after himself, but has been refused.

"Asteroid naming is very serious and does not involve commercial activities," the staff said. Commercial naming would violate the research of scientists.

The International Astronomical Union has issued specific requirements for naming asteroids. For example,

For political or military figures, they must be named 100 years after their death, but for controversial political figures, they cannot be named no matter how long they have passed away;

Discoverers cannot name asteroids after themselves, but two discoverers can cross name each other;

The name must not contain offensive words;

The name cannot be too similar to the existing asteroid name;

Naming pets is not allowed; Naming of commercial nature is not allowed.

Even if an asteroid is named, it is difficult for the recipient to see their own star in the sky.

Zhang Hao said that asteroids are invisible to the naked eye and difficult to see with astronomical enthusiasts' telescopes. Taking the observation of "Zhang Haoxing" as an example, the aperture of a telescope must be at least 110 centimeters or more, which is far beyond the maximum aperture that astronomical enthusiasts can have.

A netizen said that although asteroids are far away from us, they are connected to the spiritual world of humanity. Naming asteroids is a way to pay tribute to the people we most respect.