as 1979, when the International Star Registry was formed, private companies have attempted to sell the right to unofficially name stars. These companies have no legal standing to assign any star a name, and as such these names are never recognized by the astronomical or scientific communities. The IAU does not recognize this practice, and on its website describes it as "charlatanry". See also IAU Working Group on Star Names List of astronomical objects named after people List of minor planets named after people List of people with craters of the Moon named after them NameExoWorlds Stellar designations and names References Lists of stars Lists of things named after people Astronomical nomenclature S