How to choose a nebula to give?

Giving a nebula means recording shares of a fragment in someone's name in our private register: a dedication that gives you no ownership of any celestial object. Then comes the best part, choosing the right one among dozens of wonders. Four paths lead there: color, story, meaning and occasion.

Choosing by color

Every nebula has its own real palette, inherited from its chemistry: the deep reds of ionized hydrogen, the blues of reflection nebulae, the golds of heated dust. Ourcollection can be filtered by dominant color: give red to a passion, blue to a gentle soul, gold to someone luminous.

Choosing by story

Some nebulae carry stories that land straight away: the Helix, nicknamed the Eye of God, the last breath of a star much like the Sun; Orion, the nursery humanity has always looked at; Carina, an ocean of gas in the southern sky. Every page tells the story of its object: read two or three and the answer usually becomes obvious.

Choosing by meaning

• A love: the Heart Nebula, whose light has been travelling for 7,500 years.
• A birth, a departure: an active star nursery, such as the Lagoon or the Eagle.
• A memory: a planetary nebula, the matter of a star given back to the sky, because nothing truly disappears.
• A strength: a supernova remnant, beauty born of hardship.

Choosing by occasion

Birthday, wedding, Valentine's Day, a new baby: our occasion pages gather the nebulae whose meaning fits best, for instancegiving a nebula for a birthday orfor a new baby.

And how many shares?

A share costs between €2.90 and €4.90 depending on the nebula, and the number of shares is up to you. One share is enough for the gesture; a meaningful number (12 shares for a June 12th) makes it personal; and the certificate states the share of the sky your choice represents. The details are explained on How it works.