“Minimal input → surprising result”
Search official space catalogs by name
Type a name, choose a mode, and press Search. We prioritize exact matches in official sources; if none exists, we show the closest names.
Type any name and we’ll check whether it appears as an official planetary surface feature (IAU/USGS) or as a named minor body (NASA/JPL SBDB, MPC). We don’t sell names — we only help you verify what’s already official.
- Official sources only (IAU/USGS · NASA/JPL · MPC)
- Exact match first, then ‘closest names’ if none exists
- Shareable card + orbital visual when available
How it works
1) We normalize names for comparison (case + accents).
2) We try exact matches in official datasets/APIs.
3) If there’s no exact match, we compute similarity (Jaro–Winkler) and show the closest candidates.
Important: this is not a “name a star” service. We only consult official, public sources.
FAQ
Is ‘naming a star’ official?
Commercial ‘name a star’ services create private certificates. Official astronomy uses catalogs and standards (IAU/USGS for features; MPC and NASA/JPL services for minor bodies).
Which sources do you use?
We query official public sources and APIs such as USGS/IAU nomenclature for planetary features and NASA/JPL SBDB + MPC data for minor bodies.
Why doesn’t my name show an exact match?
Many names simply don’t exist in official catalogs. In that case we show the closest names by similarity (not an official naming).
What’s the difference between an asteroid and a planetary feature?
A minor body is an object (asteroid) orbiting the Sun. A planetary feature is a named surface landmark (crater, mountain, valley) on a planet or moon.
Are the results ‘official’?
If we show an exact match, it comes from official sources and includes a verification link. Similarity suggestions are only ‘closest matches’ for discovery.
Can I register a new name through this site?
No. This project does not register anything. It only searches public sources. Official naming follows formal processes run by recognized organizations.
Do you store my searches?
We cache queries to reduce repeated calls to external APIs. We don’t require accounts and the site works without personal registration.
What do ‘a’ and ‘e’ mean on the orbit visual?
They are orbital parameters: semi-major axis (a) and eccentricity (e). When available, we use them to draw a simplified orbit for the result.
