It is 11:11, make a wish!

I don't know the custome of making a wish at 11:11. But I do remember when I was small, looking at my digital clock, having time at 11:11, but also other times such as, 10:10, 06:06, 8:35 (8 is sum of 3 and 5) etc.

I really think the reason I remember them is because of the realization of the coincidence of having multiple same numbers occurring together.

Recently, I learnt that people make wishes at 11:11. I thought it is a bit random, and really must be a new thing, since the history of digital clock is not that long.

Then I googled 11:11, multiple websites describe the meaning of 11:11. There is a book about it (seems to be crap), and so on. In general, they talk about 11:11 as a pathway in which spirits attempt to make connections with us, thus we make wish at that time. They seem to explain the phenomenon of numbering coincidence with the spiritual awakening of human mind. They then expand the numbering coincidence to street number, floor level, apartment number of 1, 11, 111, 1010 etc.

I would love to believe these theories that add a bit magical or spiritual mystery to my dull life. But then sadly, I realized the whole theory based on the 11:11 phenomenon is quite unstable. The history and prevalence of digital clocks is less than a century. Supposely without it, the spiritual association with the occurance of street number or other number signs that involve 1111 is quite uncommon and unbelievable. Hypothetically, if one person experience numeral life turnings involved with the prophecy and epiphany of 11:11 and similar number signs; it would indeed be an unusual and unexplained phenomenon. But if it really happens to anyone, it must be very few.

Rather than relating the moments of 11:11 with deep spiritual associations stated in a way that seems like the creaction of a new religion. I would rather see it  as a contemporary culture trend that gets popular with the development of digital technology age, which I would like to summarize it in the following way:

Hey, if it is 11:11 on your clock, and you are bored, why not make a wish, who knows what would happen? But don't take it seriously, if you don't get what you wished for, it is ok, just forget about it, lol.

Naming a Star after Your Name

I just saw this online, apparently it has become a popular gift trend, especially for valentine's day.

It is all over the internet, if you google "name a star" or something like that..

It really does not cost a lot, varies from $20-$100, and you get to have a a star named after your name FOREVER?

I seek the validity of this, so I looked further and saw a few websites for naming a star for free. One directed me to a link below,

from International Astronomical Union. It pretty much explains everything and quit straight forward to read.
http://www.iau.org/public/buying_star_names/

Basically, except the few nearby and well known stars from us have their unique names. There are millions (and billions) of stars in the night sky that we can observe as twinkling dots, that have no names, but only assigned number name. It is for the convenience of locating them from telescope. But then, they do not have real significant research values, thus no need to add sophisticated or individualistic names to them that would add more confusions and redundancy to astronomical studies

So IAU assigns name to stars and star bodies, and they DO NOT assign individual name to every star, and won't approve such naming of stars from other people.

The purchased right of naming a star from certain commercial business seeking profit is not valid.

Sure, though it is a special and romantic idea.

I think, if you are really that into astronomy and stars, or you know your loved one is, maybe try buying him/her a telescope, astronomy-related book, is more worth the cost.