75 Famous Products With Astronomy Names From Classic Cars to Modern Tech

Every time you brush your teeth with a certain brand of cleanser, drive a specific SUV to work, or grab a candy bar at the checkout aisle, you might be interacting with the cosmos. The practice of naming commercial goods after planets, stars, constellations, and galaxies is a branding strategy that spans more than a century.

From the mid-20th-century Space Race to the modern era of commercial spaceflight, the night sky has provided marketers with a rich vocabulary. According to educational resources on Astronomy in the Marketplace, these names are rarely chosen by accident. They are carefully selected to communicate specific attributes about a product without requiring a single word of explanation.

Why Do Companies Use Astronomy Names for Their Products?

The psychology behind celestial naming is deeply rooted in human perception of the universe. When a branding agency selects a name from the cosmos, they are typically trying to tap into one of three core psychological associations.

Vastness and Reliability

Names like "Universal," "Galaxy," or "Cosmos" imply that a product or service is all-encompassing. When Samsung launched the Galaxy line of smartphones, the name suggested a device that contained a universe of possibilities and applications. Similarly, brands named after the Sun (like Sun Microsystems or Solaris) project an image of central importance, life-giving energy, and absolute reliability.

Speed and High Energy

During the 1970s and 1980s, technology companies frequently turned to high-energy astronomical phenomena to name cutting-edge electronics. A "Pulsar" is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. A "Quasar" is an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus. By adopting these names, brands like Pulsar (watches) and Quasar (televisions) communicated that their products were powered by rapid, advanced, and highly energetic technology.

Precision and Guidance

For companies involved in navigation, outdoor equipment, or broadcasting, stars that have historically been used for wayfinding are highly popular. "Polaris" (the North Star) and "Sirius" (the Dog Star, the brightest star in the night sky) are frequently used to imply a "guiding light" or a fixed point of reliability. This is why Sirius Satellite Radio chose its name—to position itself as the brightest, most reliable signal in the audio entertainment landscape.

Famous Cars Named After Stars and Constellations

The automotive industry ranks among the top sectors for utilizing astronomical terminology. Car manufacturers have long sought to associate their vehicles with the speed of a comet or the enduring nature of a constellation.

The Ford Taurus and the Bull Constellation

Introduced in the 1980s, the Ford Taurus became one of the most recognizable vehicles on American roads. The name is derived from Taurus, the second astrological sign in the modern zodiac and a prominent constellation in the northern hemisphere's winter sky. The constellation is known for its V-shaped cluster of stars representing the face of a bull, projecting an image of strength, stubborn reliability, and grounded power—ideal traits for a family sedan.

The Subaru Logo and the Pleiades Mystery

Subaru offers one of the most direct and literal astronomical connections in the automotive world. In Japanese, "Subaru" translates roughly to "to govern" or "gather together." It is also the Japanese name for the Pleiades star cluster (Messier 45).

The Mitsubishi Eclipse and Celestial Events

Rather than naming their sports car after a static object, Mitsubishi chose a dynamic celestial event. An eclipse occurs when an astronomical object is temporarily obscured, either by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. The name suggests a vehicle so striking that it overshadows the competition.

The Chevy Nova and the "Exploding Star"

According to the Sky & Telescope Glossary, a nova is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star, which slowly fades over weeks or months. For Chevrolet, naming a compact car the "Nova" was meant to imply a bright, sudden burst of energy and a fresh addition to their lineup.

Other Notable Vehicles

The list of celestial cars is extensive. It includes entire brands like Mercury and Saturn, as well as specific models like the Ford Galaxie, Chevy Vega (named after the brightest star in the northern constellation of Lyra), and the Toyota Celica (derived from the Latin word coelica, meaning "heavenly" or "celestial").

The Candy Constellation: Sweet Treats With Celestial Names

If cars dominate the driveway, candy dominates the checkout aisle. The confectionery industry has a long history of looking upward for naming inspiration, though the origins of these names are sometimes misunderstood.

The Milky Way Naming Misconception

It is widely assumed that the Milky Way candy bar was named directly after our home galaxy. However, historical records indicate that the bar, introduced in 1923, was actually named after a highly popular malted milkshake of the era. The creators aimed to replicate the taste of that specific milkshake in a portable candy format. The milkshake itself, of course, took its name from the galaxy, but the candy's immediate namesake was a beverage.

Mars Bars: Planet or Person?

The Mars bar presents a similar dual history. While the branding frequently leans into planetary imagery (and the company produces other space-themed items), the name "Mars" originally comes from the company's founder, Forrest Mars. Over time, the corporate identity and the astronomical association have blended seamlessly in the public consciousness.

Starburst and the "Space Age" Rebrand

Starburst candies were originally launched in the UK in 1960 under the name "Opal Fruits." When the product was introduced to the American market in 1967, the United States was in the absolute grip of the Space Race, with the Apollo program dominating the news. To capitalize on this cultural phenomenon, the candy was rebranded as "Starburst," a name that evoked cosmic energy and aligned perfectly with the era's zeitgeist.

Modern Tech and Startups Inspired by the Cosmos

While the 1970s gave us Quasar televisions and the 1990s gave us Sun Microsystems, the modern "New Space" era has generated a completely different style of astronomical naming. Today's tech companies are moving away from generic terms like "Galaxy" and adopting highly specific aerospace terminology.

Starlink (SpaceX): The Satellite Constellation

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, uses the term in a highly literal sense. In modern aerospace engineering, a group of artificial satellites working together as a system is officially called a "satellite constellation." Starlink is building exactly that—a linked network of stars (satellites) providing global coverage.

Blue Origin: A Nod to the Blue Marble

Jeff Bezos’s spaceflight company, Blue Origin, takes a more philosophical approach to celestial naming. The name is a direct reference to Earth—often called the "Blue Marble" in astronomical photography. The company's stated mission is to move heavy industry into space to preserve Earth, making the name a reminder of humanity's planetary origin.

Nebula by Anker: Projecting the Stars

Anker’s popular line of smart projectors operates under the brand name "Nebula." In astronomy, a nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often illuminated by the stars within it. For a company that specializes in projecting light and images onto blank surfaces, naming the brand after a luminous cosmic cloud is a notably innovative marketing choice.

Astranis and the New Satellite Frontier

Modern startups are increasingly blending Latin roots with space terminology. Astranis, a company building next-generation telecommunications satellites, uses a name derived from "Astra" (Latin for stars). This represents a shift away from consumer-friendly names toward terminology that sounds highly technical and specialized.

Household and Beauty Products You Didn't Know Had Space Names

Beyond cars and computers, the cosmos has infiltrated the bathroom cabinet and the kitchen sink. Many everyday household items utilize space names to communicate cleanliness, beauty, or luxury.

Comet Cleanser: Cleaning at Warp Speed

Comet is one of the most recognizable abrasive cleansers on the market. In astronomy, a comet is often described as a "dirty snowball"—a small, icy solar system body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, producing a visible atmosphere or tail. The brand uses the imagery of a comet streaking across the sky to imply fast, powerful, and sweeping cleaning action.

Venus Razors: The Planet of Beauty

Gillette’s Venus line of razors sits at the intersection of astronomy and Roman mythology. Venus is the second planet from the Sun and the brightest natural object in Earth's night sky after the Moon. It was named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. By adopting this name, the brand aligns itself with both celestial brightness and classical ideals of aesthetics.

Sunday Riley "Luna" and Luxury Skincare

The beauty industry frequently utilizes lunar terminology for nighttime recovery products. Sunday Riley’s highly popular "Luna" sleeping night oil is a prime example. "Luna" is the Latin name for the Moon. In skincare branding, lunar names are used to signal that a product is designed to work overnight, aligning the user's beauty routine with the natural cycles of the celestial sphere.

Omega Speedmaster: The "Moonwatch"

In the luxury watch sector, few timepieces carry the historical weight of the Omega Speedmaster. While "Speedmaster" is not an astronomical name, the watch is universally known in horological circles as the "Moonwatch." It earned this title by being the first watch worn by an astronaut walking on the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission. Other watchmakers, such as Zenith (named after the highest point in the celestial sphere directly above an observer), also rely heavily on astronomical concepts to project an image of peak precision.

Common Myths and Misconceptions About Space-Themed Brands

When brands become deeply embedded in popular culture, urban legends inevitably follow. Several well-known stories about space-themed products are entirely fictional.

The Chevy Nova "No Va" Urban Legend

One of the most frequently repeated marketing myths claims that the Chevrolet Nova sold terribly in Latin America because "no va" translates to "it doesn't go" in Spanish. This story is widely taught as a cautionary tale about localization, but it is entirely false.

In reality, the Nova sold quite well in Mexico and Venezuela. Spanish speakers easily recognized "Nova" as a single word meaning "new" or relating to stars, much like English speakers distinguish between "carpet" and a "car pet." The astronomical association remained intact, and the car was a commercial success in those markets.

The Starbucks Nautical Confusion

In various online discussions, including threads on the Cosmoquest Forums, Starbucks is occasionally misidentified as a space-inspired brand, likely due to the word "Star" in the title. This is a misconception. The coffee giant is actually named after Starbuck, the first mate of the ship Pequod in Herman Melville's classic novel Moby-Dick. The branding is strictly nautical, not astronomical.

Sunmaid Raisins and Sunny-D

It is important to distinguish between "Solar" names and "Weather" names. Sunmaid Raisins references the Sun as an astronomical body necessary for the agricultural process of drying grapes. Sunny-D, on the other hand, uses the term to describe a pleasant weather condition and a bright disposition. While both trace back to our local star, their branding intents are quite different.

How to Choose an Astronomy Name for Your Own Brand

If you are developing a new product or launching a startup, the cosmos offers a massive catalog of potential names. However, selecting the right one requires understanding both scientific conventions and trademark law.

Check the IAU Standards

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies. While brands are not bound by IAU rules, understanding them can help. For instance, the IAU mandates that the initial letters of individual astronomical objects (Earth, Sun, Moon) be capitalized. Furthermore, scientists typically name objects based on coordinates or the discoverer's name (e.g., Comet Halley), whereas brands prefer evocative, descriptive terms.

Trademark Considerations

Before falling in love with a celestial name, conduct thorough trademark research. The term "Galaxy" is heavily protected by Samsung in the electronics space. "Mars" is fiercely defended in the food and beverage sector. Because astronomical terms are in the public domain, they are highly sought after, meaning many of the most obvious choices (Apollo, Orion, Atlas) are already trademarked in multiple product categories.

• Ensure the name aligns with your product's core attribute (e.g., speed vs. reliability).
• Verify that the name doesn't have a conflicting mythological meaning (e.g., Uranus).
• Check the USPTO database for existing trademarks in your specific industry class.
• Consider using Latin or Greek translations of space terms (e.g., Astra, Stella, Lunasol) to find available trademarks.

Frequently Asked Questions