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 |
---|---|---|---|
170006 Stoughton | 2002 TV309 | Chris Stoughton (born 1959), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170006 |
170007 Strateva | 2002 TV323 | Iskra Strateva (born 1975), Bulgarian-born, former American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170007 |
170008 Michaelstrauss | 2002 TZ338 | Michael Strauss (born 1961), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170008 |
170009 Subbarao | 2002 TY340 | Mark Subbarao (born 1968), an American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. | JPL · 170009 |
170010 Szalay | 2002 TJ341 | Alex Szalay (born 1949), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170010 |
170011 Szkody | 2002 TE352 | Paula Szkody (born 1948), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170011 |
170012 Anithakar | 2002 TF359 | Ani Thakar (born 1960), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170012 |
170022 Douglastucker | 2002 UO66 | Douglas Tucker (born 1965), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170022 |
170023 Vogeley | 2002 UR68 | Michael S. Vogeley (born 1965), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170023 |
170073 Ivanlinscott | 2002 VU129 | Ivan R. Linscott (born 1942) is an emeritus research scientist for Stanford University, who served as a science team co-investigator and as Principal Investigator of the REX Radio Science Instrument for the New Horizons mission to Pluto. | JPL · 170073 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170162 Nicolashayek | 2003 FJ2 | Nicolas Hayek (1928–2010), Swiss-Lebanese entrepreneur best known for the Swatch. He has also been a member of the Jura Astronomy Society (French: Société Jurassienne d'Astronomie), owner of the Jura Observatory, where this minor planet was discovered | JPL · 170162 |
170193 Joanguillem | 2003 OA6 | Joan Guillem Cap Caldentey (b. 1982), a Mallorcan amateur astronomer. | IAU · 170193 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170306 Augustzátka | 2003 SZ32 | August Zátka (1847–1935), Czech personality of České Budějovice | JPL · 170306 |
170395 Nicolevogt | 2003 SP319 | Nicole Vogt (born 1967), American astronomer with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey | JPL · 170395 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170487 Mallder | 2003 UE285 | Valerie A. Mallder (born 1963) is a systems engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, who served as a Deputy Mission Systems Engineer for the New Horizons mission to Pluto. | JPL · 170487 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170644 Tepliczky | 2003 YW107 | István Tepliczky (b. 1961), a Hungarian amateur astronomer. | IAU · 170644 |
170700 Marygoldaross | 2004 BY23 | Mary Golda Ross (1908–2008) was a Native American (Cherokee) mathematician and aerospace pioneer with Lockheed, whose projects included the Agena program and interplanetary probes. A passionate educator, Ross advocated for engineering and mathematics opportunities for women and Native Americans. | IAU · 170700 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
There are no named minor planets in this number range |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170879 Verbeeckje | 2004 LV5 | Elena Verbeeck (born 2010) daughter of Francis Verbeeck, friend of Belgian astronomer Peter De Cat who discovered this minor planet | JPL · 170879 |
170900 Jendrassik | 2004 VY69 | György Jendrassik (1898–1954), a Hungarian mechanical engineer who designed the world's first turboprop engine | JPL · 170900 |
Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
---|---|---|---|
170906 Coluche | 2004 XC41 | Michel Colucci (1944–1986), better known as "Coluche", French comedian and actor | JPL · 170906 |
170909 Bobmasterson | 2004 XW62 | Bob Masterson (born 1951), an accomplished amateur astronomer and astrophotographer. | JPL · 170909 |
170910 Brandonsanderson | 2004 XE69 | Brandon Sanderson (born 1975), a renowned American fantasy author. | JPL · 170910 |
170927 Dgebessire | 2005 AS3 | Gérad Bessire (born 1953), a biologist and pedagogue from Courroux, Switzerland | JPL · 170927 |
170995 Ritajoewright | 2005 EM2 | Rita (born 1953) and Joseph (born 1962) Wright are enthusiastic outreach astronomers in the Kansas City area. Together they have hosted countless evenings under the stars, mostly at the Warkoczewski Public Observatory, and have led the Heart of America star party, one of the largest gatherings in the U.S., for many years. | JPL · 170995 |