As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified number-range that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names.
Official naming citations of newly named small Solar System bodies are approved and published in a bulletin by IAU's Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). [1] Before May 2021, citations were published in MPC's Minor Planet Circulars for many decades. [2] Recent citations can also be found on the JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB). [3] Until his death in 2016, German astronomer Lutz D. Schmadel compiled these citations into the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (DMP) and regularly updated the collection. [4] [5]
Based on Paul Herget's The Names of the Minor Planets , [6] Schmadel also researched the unclear origin of numerous asteroids, most of which had been named prior to World War II. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain : SBDB New namings may only be added to this list below after official publication as the preannouncement of names is condemned. [7] The WGSBN publishes a comprehensive guideline for the naming rules of non-cometary small Solar System bodies. [8]
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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341317 Weisshaidinger | 2007 TE | Lukas Weisshaidinger (born 1992) is an Austrian discus thrower and shot putter. He won the bronze medal for discus at both the 2018 European Championship and 2019 World Championship. | IAU · 341317 |
341359 Gregneumann | 2007 TV69 | Gregory A. Neumann (born 1947), an American planetary scientist involved NASA's MGS, LRO, GRAIL and MESSENGER missions | JPL · 341359 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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341520 Mors-Somnus | 2007 TY430 | Mors and Somnus, the twin gods of the underworld and offspring of Nox in Roman mythology | JPL · 341520 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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341826 Aurelbaier | 2008 AC30 | Aurel Baier (born 1980) has studied informatics and is currently developing and maintaining various software systems. In his leisure time he promotes astronomy to the public. He is a member of the committee of the Observatory of Ependes and each year organizes a public event for Astronomy Day in Switzerland. | JPL · 341826 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
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341958 Chrétien | 2008 PW21 | Henri Chrétien (1879–1956), a French astronomer and optician. | JPL · 341958 |
342000 Neumünster | 2008 RV26 | The German city of Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein, has supported astronomical education since 1969. Currently they operate an observatory that offers astronomical courses and public observing. The observatory focuses on education. | JPL · 342000 |