In memory · star certificate
A star in memory of someone you miss
Giving the name of someone you have lost to a real star gives you somewhere to look up to. The certificate brings together their name, a date that matters and a few words from you; you can print it, keep it, or give it to the family as a sympathy gift.
Symbolic dedication in the private Starry Memory registry · from €8.91 · PDF to download as soon as you pay.
It is a symbolic dedication in the private Starry Memory registry: the star keeps its scientific designation and nothing changes in the sky. What matters is what you place there.
What it is, simply
You choose a real star from the Hipparcos catalogue, identified by its HIP number and coordinates. You give it a name — often the person’s first name, or the nickname you used for them — a date and a message. Once your payment is verified, the two-page A4 PDF is ready to download straight away: the numbered certificate and a guide to locating the star.
In our registry, the star is assigned to one order only. That commitment applies to our registry alone: the chosen name is not one astronomers will use, and we would rather say so clearly. It is an act of remembrance, not an official registration.
Which date to put on the certificate
The date is yours to choose, anywhere between 1900 and 2100. Many people pick the date of birth, to celebrate a life rather than mark a loss. Others prefer the date they passed away, or a happy memory: a wedding, a journey, a last summer together.
There is no wrong answer. Ask yourself which date the family will want to read again in ten years’ time. If in doubt, the birthday is often the gentlest choice, and it gives everyone a reason to talk about them every year.
A few words, depending on who they were
The message can be up to 280 characters. Here are examples in different tones, to rewrite with your own memories: one true detail always says more than a set phrase.
For a parent
For Mum, who taught us the names of the stars. Thank you for everything you left us.
For a grandparent
For Grandad Joe, his Sunday crosswords and his sailing stories. We think of you often.
For a friend
For Sam, the best travelling companion anyone could ask for. We still laugh at your jokes.
Written with a child
For Nana Rose, from Lily, aged 7: “I draw you a picture every time I look at the sky.”
With faith
For Mary, at peace. You remain in our prayers and in our hearts.
For a four-legged friend
For Biscuit, twelve years of walks and loyalty. The house is very quiet without you.
The star name is limited to 32 characters: a first name, “Grandad Joe” or “Mum” is enough. The person you give the certificate to is a separate field; it can be the whole family, for example “For the Taylor family”.
Giving a star to a grieving family
Timing matters as much as the gift. In the days after a death, families are often overwhelmed; many people prefer to give the certificate a few weeks later, on a birthday, at a celebration of life, or simply on an evening when everyone is together.
- Print the PDF on good matte paper and slip it into a sympathy card or an envelope, with a handwritten note.
- Explain in one sentence what it is: a real star, dedicated in their memory, with a guide to finding it.
- Present it as a gesture of care, without talk of “ownership” or “forever”: its value lies in the thought.
- If the family lives far away, send them the PDF yourself with a few personal lines.
- For a group gift from colleagues or friends, agree together on one short message.
What stays private
The name of the person receiving the certificate and your message are never published: they appear only on the certificate. Publishing the star name in our registry is switched off by default; you can turn it on if the family would like, and switch it off again from your order without deleting the certificate.
If the star name is the full name of the person who died, think twice before publishing it: anyone could then read it beside the star’s reference.
Finding the star in the sky
The second page of the PDF is a finder guide. The certificate’s QR code opens the star’s page in 3D in the phone’s browser, with no app, then helps you find it in the real sky using the phone’s motion sensors. The message and the recipient’s name never appear there.
It all depends on the star’s brightness, where you are and the weather: stars of magnitude 6 or brighter can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky, fainter ones need binoculars. Visibility is never guaranteed; if being able to point it out matters to the family, choose a naked-eye star.
Or the sky of a date that matters
Some families would rather show the whole sky of a date and a place, such as the night someone was born. That is a separate product, the personalised star map, with its own designer; it does not depend on the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dedicate a star to someone who died many years ago?
Yes. The date on the certificate is yours to choose, between 1900 and 2100: a birth, a loss long ago or a happy memory.
Will the message be visible online?
No. The message and the recipient’s name are never published. Only the star name can be, and only if you switch that option on yourself; it is off by default.
When is the certificate available?
The PDF can be downloaded from the confirmation page as soon as payment is verified and the star is assigned. Nothing is posted, so keep the PDF and its private link to print it again later.
How much does a memorial star cost?
From €8.91. The price depends on the star’s brightness and type; the full list is on our page about how much it costs to name a star.
✦ Personalised star certificate
Give a star, scan it and find it in the sky with your smartphone
A personalised certificate with a QR code: one smartphone scan shows the star in 3D, then its direction in the real sky.
- Choose a real star and its name
- Scan the certificate’s QR code, no app needed
- Find it in the sky with your smartphone
From €8.91 · PDF to download as soon as you pay
Symbolic dedication in the private Starry Memory registry. Depending on its brightness and the weather, you’ll see it with the naked eye, with binoculars, or find its direction.