International Catalogue of Heavenly Bodies (ICHB.ORG)

This section contains important information regarding the legal aspects of using our services. For your convenience, all key documents are collected in one place: please review our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

1. Purpose of This Website

ICHB.ORG is a scientific information project created to systematize astronomical nomenclature. Our catalog helps researchers, journalists, and anyone interested navigate the diversity of names for stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. The information on the website is for informational purposes and serves as a starting point for deeper study of astronomy.

We make every effort to maintain the accuracy and currency of our data. However, astronomy is a living science, and our knowledge of space is constantly expanding. Therefore, information in the catalog may be supplemented and refined as new scientific data becomes available.

2. Basis of Our Relationship

Our relationship with users is built on principles of openness and good faith. We offer you access to a unique database and related services. In turn, we rely on users’ responsible attitude toward the information provided.

Specifically, this means that:

• Data may be updated. We work to ensure the information in the catalog is as complete and current as possible, but we cannot guarantee its absolute immutability — science does not stand still.
• Access to services. We strive to ensure stable operation of the website, but like any technological project, we may conduct maintenance or updates that could temporarily affect the availability of certain functions.
• Third-party information. Our materials may contain links to other websites and organizations. We are not responsible for their content, as we do not control them.

3. Limits of Liability

We respect our users and value your trust. In our work, we are guided by generally accepted norms and standards for informational scientific projects.

Like many other organizations providing informational services, we cannot be held liable for:

• Decisions made based on our data. Information from the catalog may be used for reference, but we recommend verifying critically important data from primary sources, especially for scientific research.
• Actions of third parties. We do not control the behavior of other users or the actions of third-party organizations that may be linked from our website.
• Technical failures. We care about security and stability, but unfortunately, no website in the world can provide 100% guarantee against failures caused by external factors.

In any case, our liability to you is limited to the amount you paid for using our paid services (if any) during the last 12 months, but shall not exceed $100 USD. This is a standard and generally accepted limitation for similar services worldwide.

4. Information Is Not Advice

ICHB.ORG is a reference resource, not a consulting service. Our catalog data does not replace professional scientific or legal advice. For important decisions — whether writing scientific papers or resolving legal issues related to intellectual property — we recommend consulting qualified professionals.

5. Our Partners and External Links

We are open to collaboration and value relationships with scientific organizations worldwide. Mentioning partners on our website is a sign of our respect for their work and a way to guide you in the world of astronomical information.

It is important to understand that such mentions:

• Do not constitute an obligation on the part of partners to share our views or be responsible for our content.
• Do not imply any unified legal or commercial interest unless separately agreed.
• When following external links, you access other resources whose operation is governed by their own rules.

6. Name Registration Services

One of the key services of ICHB.ORG is the registration of names for celestial objects. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to immortalize a name in space and want you to understand all aspects of this process.

• Name Rights and Absence of Rights to the Celestial Body. By registering a name, you do not become its “owner” in the legal sense, nor do you acquire any proprietary rights (ownership rights) to the celestial body itself. The name remains in the public domain and serves to identify the object, much like the names of mountains or rivers serve for orientation on Earth. The celestial body itself, as a natural object, cannot be subject to private ownership. The name was proposed by you (or in your honor) and assigned to a specific celestial object. You or the person who named the object in your honor may initiate a name change at any time in agreement with ICHB.ORG or with the official ICHB.ORG partner through which the registration was made.
• Recognition of the Name. Entering a name in our catalog is an important step for its popularization and use in popular science contexts. However, this does not guarantee that it will be automatically recognized by all international organizations, governmental bodies, academic institutions, scientific societies, or other third parties. The status and recognition of a name may vary depending on the policies of specific organizations and jurisdictions.
• Application Review and Catalog Quality Maintenance. We strive to ensure that our catalog remains respectful, ethical, and aligned with the high standards of the scientific community. Therefore, we carefully review each application and reserve the right to reject a proposed name if it does not comply with our rules and norms. Furthermore, if it becomes apparent that a previously approved name, for any reason, has come to be perceived as inappropriate, offensive, contrary to our internal convictions, or generally accepted norms (even if this was not initially obvious), we will make an effort to contact the person who proposed the name to discuss possible adjustment options. However, if contact cannot be established or dialogue is not possible within a reasonable timeframe, we reserve the right to independently decide on the modification or removal of the name from the catalog — until such time as the naming initiator agrees on a new name with us. Such decisions are made solely in the interests of preserving the catalog’s reputation and showing respect to all users, without any compensation.

7. How We Work with Scientific Data

Our database is a living, constantly growing organism. We collect information from thousands of sources, process it, and standardize it. You can be confident that by using our service, you gain access to the most comprehensive collection of astronomical names available today.

At the same time, we encourage researchers to approach any reference data (including ours) with appropriate diligence and verify it within the context of their research work.

8. Third-Party Opinions and Mentions

Mention of any products, services, or publications on our website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation to purchase or use them. Opinions expressed by third parties in our materials belong to them and may not coincide with the position of ICHB.ORG. Likewise, the position of ICHB.ORG may not coincide with the opinions of third parties, even if they are mentioned on our website.

9. International Nature of Activities

ICHB.ORG is an international project uniting partners and representatives in different countries around the world. Our activities are based on generally accepted principles of international scientific cooperation and respect for the laws of the countries where our partners operate.

If you use our services through an official representative or partner in your country, your relationship is governed taking into account local specifics and conditions provided by such representative. In this case, we recommend contacting them directly for the most complete information considering local features.

For users interacting directly with ICHB.ORG, the general principles set forth in this document, as well as in the User Agreement and Privacy Policy, apply. Matters related to jurisdiction are resolved in a practical manner taking into account international practice and the location of the relevant representative or partner.

10. Your Obligations to Us

By using our services, you agree that in the event of claims from third parties related to your actions (for example, infringement of someone’s rights by a name you proposed), you undertake to resolve them independently, without involving ICHB.ORG.

11. Updates to Rules

We live in a changing world, so we may update this section from time to time to reflect new realities. The current version will always be available on this page. By continuing to use the website after updates, you agree to them.

12. Applicable Law

This document and the relationship between you and ICHB.ORG are governed by generally accepted principles of international law and the legislation of the organization’s country of registration. In case of disagreements, the parties undertake to seek resolution through negotiations and interaction with relevant representatives in your country.

13. Severability

If any provision, phrase, word, clause, or part of this document is for any reason found to be inapplicable, this does not affect the validity and legal force of all other provisions, phrases, words, and parts of the document. In such a case, the invalid part is replaced by the closest possible meaning that is legally correct.

14. Unified Set of Documents

This section together with the User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy form a complete set of rules governing your interaction with ICHB.ORG. All these documents are available at permanent links and can be viewed at any time.

The world changes, and we change with it, which is why we may update this document. The current version of the Legal Information that has legal force is always available at https://ichb.org/legal-information-full/. By continuing to use the site, you confirm that you have reviewed the current version at the provided link and accept its terms.

15. How to Contact Us

If you have any questions, we are always open to dialogue. Write to us:

Email: legal@ichb.org

Latest Update: May 1999