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Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense episode artwork

Feb 19, 2026 12 min

Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense

from The Science Show Hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A quick online search reveals multiple paid services for naming stars as commemorative gifts. You'll be provided with a certificate and a map for finding your star in the sky. But these names are not official and are not used by astronomers — or anyone else, for that matter. So what's going on, and how do stars really get their names? ‌Featuring: Laura Driessen, radio astronomer at the University of Sydney You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: [email protected] This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar people.

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Lab Notes: Why buying a star name is nonsense

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