Don’t find the answer you need below? Contact us through our contact page.
- Is there a limit to the number of names I can submit?
- Do I own the names I nominate?
- Can I change a name after I have bought it?
- Will you ever rename something that I have named or change a nomination I have made?
- Are there words that I cannot use in a naming nomination? Why?
- I found a name or description that I consider to be offensive. Who do I contact about it?
- Who reviews a name before Uwingu approves it?
- What kind of research, education, and exploration programs will Uwingu fund?
- Can I suggest a recipient for Uwingu funds?
- Are my purchases tax deductible?
- I would like to make a contribution to Uwingu. How do I do that?
- Why am I being asked to explain the name I chose. Is this required?
- Can I add hyperlinks to my name description?
- Can I embed a picture or a video?
- Can I name something after my business or its services?
- Can I buy a gift certificate for someone?
- Can I name something in a language other than English?
- I named something and you rejected it. Can I appeal this decision?
- Can I use my Uwingu names in a scientific paper? If so how do I reference them?
- Do NASA or other space agencies recognize Uwingu names?
- How do I contact Uwingu?
- I lost my password! How do I find out what it is or get a new one?
- The billing on my credit card is wrong. Who do I talk to about this?
- I am in Europe; can I pay in Euros? I’m in…
- I’ve read that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) says that only they can name planets. What’s the story?
- How is Uwingu different from companies that offer to name a star?
1. Is there a limit to the number of names I can submit?
There is no limit to how many names you can nominate, or how many times you can vote! The more you participate, the more science you facilitate!
2. Do I own the names I nominate?
You do not own the names you nominate; as our purchase agreement states, names entered into the Uwingu database are not owned by their nominators. The names you nominate become part of the public domain for use in planet naming, and are available for all to use for other purposes as well.
3. Can I change a name after I have bought it?
No, all sales are final at purchase, so users cannot later make changes to the names they nominated and the citations that go with these names. Likewise, votes cast are also final.
4. Will you ever rename something that I have named or change a nomination I have made?
Uwingu will never rename, change, or delete a name nomination, except in instances as specified by the user purchase agreement. For example, if we find that a name is vulgar or otherwise offensive, we reserve the right to delete the name and votes from our database.
5. Are there words that I cannot use in a naming nomination? Why?
Vulgar words and phrases, epithets, insults, inciting or defamatory language, and language that is otherwise offensive are not allowed. This is true for all languages. As a general rule of thumb, if the typical grandmother wouldn’t be proud to hear her small grandchild saying the name out loud, it is probably not a good name.
6. I found a name or description that I consider to be offensive. Who do I contact about it?
There are two options.
- On the voting and name-view pages, you should see a link to report names. Just click that link, and we’ll get a report!
- You can also contact us directly through our contact form, and select “Report Name” as the message subject.
7. Who reviews a name before Uwingu approves it?
Uwingu will review all name submissions, but we also ask Uwingu users to alert us to any names believed to be offensive, vulgar, or insulting.
8. What kind of research, education, and exploration programs does Uwingu fund?
Many kinds! Some are strategically selected by Uwingu, and others will be proposed by scientists, educators, and others around the world and selected after peer review. To be responsive to the needs of a diverse set of applicants, Uwingu will be looking to fund travel grants, project grants, educator grants, and researcher grants. As long as the proposal is for involves space research, education, or exploration, it will be considered. Learn more on our “For Grant Applicants” and “Calls for Proposals” pages!
9. Can I suggest a recipient for Uwingu funds?
All of our grants require projects to be submitted through a competitive grant application process. Rather then send us information about someone you think should be funded, please encourage them to apply through our standard application process, or to sign up for our Newsletter for Grant Applicants.
10. Are my purchases tax deductible?
No, because Uwingu is not a non-profit corporation. Like many for-profit firms that make grants to good causes, purchases at Uwingu are not tax deductible.
11. I would like to make a contribution to Uwingu. How do I do that?
Just visit our donations page! If you’d like to talk with someone about donations, please use our contact form and select “Giving” as the subject.
12. Why am I being asked to explain the name I chose. Is this required?
Yes, it is required. We ask for a citation explaining the reason you selected any given name you are nominating so that your reasons can be recorded for posterity. We think that the reasons behind a given name being nominated will be important to history, and make the name nomination and voting process more fun, too! But your reason can be as short as one word.
13. Can I add hyperlinks to my name description?
Uwingu’s database allows for text descriptions only. Hyperlinks can go out-of-date, but your written descriptions will last forever.
14. Can I embed a picture or a video?
No, neither pictures nor video can be embedded in name nominations or naming citations at this time.
15. Can I name something after my business or its services?
Yes, you can nominate names for planets after anyone or anything, so long as it is not vulgar, insulting, or inciting, or otherwise offensive.
16. Can I buy a gift certificate for someone?
Sort of. Since our company is strictly digital, you can purchase a gift code to give to someone. Just visit Gift Uwingu on our main menu.
17. Can I name something in a language other than English?
Yes, absolutely! Uwingu invites everyone around the world to participate, so many languages and alphabets are supported by our database. Over time, that list will continue to grow!
18. I named something and you rejected it. Can I appeal this decision?
Yes, just use our contact page and select “Appeal Name Rejection” as the subject.
19. Can I use my Uwingu names in a scientific paper? If so how do I reference them?
Yes, of course. You can reference them using their citation number in The Uwingu Planet Name Nomination Database Registry.
20. Do NASA or other space agencies recognize Uwingu names?
Not yet, maybe soon.
21. How do I contact Uwingu?
Please use our contact form.
22. I lost my password! How do I find out what it is or get a new one?
Just go to the login page and “forgot my password” link there; a temporary password will be emailed to you. If you don’t receive that email, set your spam filters to allow emails from uwingu.com and try again.
23. The billing on my credit card is wrong. Who do I talk to about this?
Please use our contact form and select “Billing Issue” as the subject. Be sure to include the email address you use as your uwingu.com login ID, but never include sensitive information like your credit card number.
24. I am in Europe; can I pay in Euros? I’m in …?
All Uwingu transactions are in dollars, but payments through PayPal (which allows you to use credit cards without logging in!) will convert many currencies to dollars for you.
25. I’ve read that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) says that only they can name planets. What’s the story?
The IAU has created catalogs for some astronomical objects, such as asteroids. For stars, astronomers have created dozens of catalogs which are frequently used. For instance, the North Star (Polaris) is called alpha Ursae Minoris in one catalog, HR 424 in one catalog, HD 8890 in another, Hipparcos 11767 in another, and so on. These names weren’t approved or developed by the IAU, yet they are in common use and their definitions are clear.
The IAU has never tried to put together a catalog of extrasolar planet names, so Uwingu is starting. Just like stellar catalogs are made up by astronomers without the IAU’s input, the Uwingu catalog is not created with the IAU.
No one owns the sky, and the IAU has no exclusive ‘official’ naming rights to astronomical objects.
26. How is Uwingu different from companies that offer to name a star?
Companies that offer to sell you a star make big profits by selling fancy certificates. Their catalogs are not published freely — so if you or an astronomer wants to find a star’s name, good luck! At Uwingu, the public participates openly in the naming process, and your nominations and votes help support scientific research and education.