Short, honest answers to the questions people ask most often about Asteria — what a registry entry is, how names work, what you need to take part, and where the science and the law draw their lines. If your question is not here, the rest of the documentation goes deeper, and every answer links to the page that does.
The essentials#
No. Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, celestial bodies cannot be appropriated, and no private registry can grant title to one. An Asteria token is a unique digital collectible that records your entry — and its registry name — in the Asteria registry. It is not a property deed.
No. Official names for minor planets are approved by the International Astronomical Union's Working Group Small Bodies Nomenclature, usually on the proposal of the discoverers, and they cannot be bought. Asteria names are registry names: meaningful inside the Asteria registry and on the token, not recognised by the IAU.
Every entry in the launch catalogue will reference a real catalogued minor planet, with its official designation and orbital data sourced from public databases. The listings on this preview site are demo entries until verification is complete.
The marketplace is in development. Join the waitlist to be notified when the testnet and the Genesis primary sale open.
Each registry entry is planned as a unique, non-fungible token. The network and token standard for the registry will be confirmed after the legal and technical review — see the roadmap.
It is the official address of the Asteria community token. Always copy it from this site and verify it before interacting — Asteria will never DM you a different address. Holding it does not represent ownership of any asteroid or of Asteria, and it is not an offer of an investment.
No. Asteria tokens are collectibles. They are not designed or marketed as investments, carry no right to profits, and their value may go to zero. Read the risk disclosure before taking part.
Each asteroid launches with a curated Asteria name. A dedication option — adding your own inscription to the certificate — is planned for the marketplace, subject to the naming guidelines.
A unique token in your wallet, a registry entry tied to the asteroid's official designation, a high-resolution digital certificate, and the token's metadata (orbit, physical data, name and story).
Buying#
Can I buy something today?#
No. The marketplace is in development and nothing can be purchased on this preview site. Joining the waitlist is the way to hear when the testnet and the primary sale open.
Does joining the waitlist commit me to anything?#
No. The waitlist records your interest so that we can notify you and offer an early access window. It carries no obligation to buy and no guarantee of an allocation.
Can I reserve a specific asteroid now?#
No. The entries on this site are demo listings used to design the experience. Labels such as "Reserved" or "Named" are part of that demo and do not reflect real reservations. The launch catalogue will be verified before any sale.
How much will an entry cost?#
Final prices will be published before the primary sale opens, per entry and per tier. The prices shown on this preview site are demo values. See Pricing & tiers.
Can I get a refund?#
The refund and withdrawal policy will be set out in the binding terms of sale, after review by counsel. On-chain transactions themselves cannot be reversed. See Fees & royalties.
Names#
Who chooses the Asteria name?#
Asteria's curators, following the published naming guidelines. Each name comes with its meaning and a short story, recorded in the token's metadata.
Can the asteroid have an official name as well?#
Yes. An asteroid in the registry may already have an official IAU name, or may receive one in the future. The official designation and any official name always take precedence; the Asteria name exists alongside them, only within the registry.
Can I rename my entry after buying it?#
The curated Asteria name is planned to be permanent, so that the registry stays stable for every holder. A personal dedication on the certificate is planned instead, subject to the naming guidelines.
Will the name appear in astronomy apps or databases?#
No. Official catalogues such as those of the Minor Planet Center list only official designations and IAU-approved names. Asteria names appear on the token, the certificate and in the Asteria registry.
Tokens and wallets#
What kind of token is it?#
A unique, non-fungible token — one per registry entry. The network and token standard (for example ERC-721 on EVM chains) will be confirmed after review. See Smart contracts.
Do I need a crypto wallet?#
At launch, yes: the planned checkout uses a self-custody wallet that you control. Other payment options are to be announced. Wallets & custody explains how to choose one and keep it safe.
What happens if I lose access to my wallet?#
Your token stays where it is, but no one — including Asteria — can move it for you. Back up your recovery phrase offline, and never share it with anyone.
Can I gift or transfer my entry?#
Registry tokens are planned to be standard transferable non-fungible tokens, so you can send one to another wallet. The transfer costs a network fee, and the display licence passes to the new holder.
Where are the image and metadata stored?#
Token metadata and media are planned to be stored on IPFS, a content-addressed network, so they cannot be silently changed. See Token metadata.
Science#
Are these real asteroids?#
Every entry in the launch catalogue will reference a real, catalogued minor planet with its official designation and orbital data from public databases. The entries on this preview site are demo data. See Data & sources.
Could my asteroid hit Earth?#
An orbit class such as Apollo or Aten describes where an orbit goes, not how dangerous an object is. For impact-risk assessments, the authoritative sources are NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies and ESA's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre. Asteria does not make hazard assessments.
Can I see my asteroid through a telescope?#
Probably not without serious equipment. Almost every asteroid is far too faint for the naked eye, and most small bodies need a sizeable telescope and long exposures. Each entry shows its absolute magnitude, H — a measure of intrinsic brightness, where a higher number means fainter.
Why might an entry's data change?#
Science improves. Orbits are recalculated as new observations arrive, and size, albedo and spectral classifications can be revised. Each entry records its data sources so that changes can be traced.
Legal#
Is it legal to sell this?#
Asteria sells digital collectibles — tokens, registry entries and certificates — not asteroids. The legal structure, including where sales will be offered, is being reviewed by counsel before launch. See the legal framework.
Is the token regulated as a crypto-asset in the EU?#
The EU's MiCA regulation generally excludes crypto-assets that are unique and not fungible, and each Asteria token represents a single distinct entry. Asteria does not plan to fractionalise entries. The final classification is a question for counsel.
Will I owe tax?#
You may. Tax rules for digital collectibles vary by country, and you are responsible for your own tax obligations. Nothing in these docs is tax advice.
Where can I read the terms?#
A plain-language draft is available in the Terms overview. The binding terms will be published, after review by counsel, before any sale.