Sold Out

My friend Andrea alerted me to this deal. Celestron, a well-known company that makes telescopes and accessories, has partnered with the International Star Registry. Some of you may remember my thoughts on star-naming companies from other articles here. Check out the Space Laws article that explains how no one owns space (or the naming rights to it) and my more humorous take on it with the 5 Ways to Annoy an Astronomer. (Note number 4.) I have avoided mentioning the name of ISR in my articles because I didn't want to give them any free press (even bad press, which would still get their name out there).

But now it appears that Celestron has "sold out" by partnering with one of the banes of an astronomer's existence. What were they thinking? It would be easy to say that they weren't thinking, but you don't make a business deal such as this without thinking. I think they were only seeing dollar signs.

My own telescope is a Celstron. When I am in the market for a new one, I'm going to think long and hard about who will be getting my money.

To read Andrea's blog about Celestron and ISR, visit the New Scientist blog dated August 1, 2007 titled "A Star by Any Other Name". And if you know someone who was planning to buy the naming rights to a star, please pass the information along.