This is a list of named minor planets in an alphabetical, case-insensitive order grouped by the first letter of their name. [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] New namings, typically proposed by the discoverer and approved by the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) of the International Astronomical Union, are published nowadays in their WGSBN Bulletin and summarized in a dedicated list several times a year. [1]
Over the last four decades, the list has grown significantly with an average rate of 492 new namings published every year (or 1.35 namings per day). While in March 1979, [2] only 1924 minor planets had received a name and completed the designation process, as of 21 November 2023 [update] , the list contains 24,514 named objects. [1] This, however, only accounts for 3.90% of all numbered bodies, as there are over 629,000 minor planets with a well established orbit which is a precondition for receiving a name. Of all these minor-planet names, 1311 contain diacritical marks. [3]
In ancient times, only the Sun and Moon, a few stars, and the most easily visible planets had names. Over the last few hundred years, the number of identified astronomical objects has risen from hundreds to over a billion, and more are discovered every year. Astronomers need to be able to assign systematic designations to unambiguously identify all of these objects, and at the same time give names to the most interesting objects, and where relevant, features of those objects.
This is a list of minor planets which have been officially named by the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The list consists of partial pages, each covering a number range of 1,000 bodies citing the source after each minor planet was named for. An overview of all existing partial pages is given in section § Index.
3708 Socus (provisional designation: 1974 FV1) is a large Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 77 kilometers (48 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 21 March 1974, by staff members of the Cerro El Roble Observatory owned and operated by the Department of Astronomy of the University of Chile. The assumed C-type asteroid has a rotation period of 6.55 hours. It was named after Socus, a hero from Greek mythology, who was killed in battle by Odysseus.
5648 Axius, provisional designation: 1990 VU1, is a Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 11 November 1990, by Japanese amateur astronomers Kin Endate and Kazuro Watanabe at the Kitami Observatory on the northern island of Hokkaidō, Japan. The dark D-type asteroid belongs to the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a long rotation period of 37.6 hours. It was named after Axius, a river god from Greek mythology.
34746 Thoon (provisional designation 2001 QE91) is a dark Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 22 August 2001, by astronomers with the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at Lincoln Lab's ETS in Socorro, New Mexico. The possibly elongated Jovian asteroid is one of the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 19.6 hours. It was named after the Trojan warrior Thoön from Greek mythology.
38050 Bias (provisional designation 1998 VR38) is a Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 61 kilometers (38 miles) in diameter. It was discovered on 10 November 1998, by astronomers with the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research at Lincoln Lab's ETS in Socorro, New Mexico. The dark Jovian asteroid is one of the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 18.9 hours. It was named after the Athenian warrior Bias from Greek mythology.