Asminor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by theIAU'sMinor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU'snaming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified number-range that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names.
Based onPaul Herget'sThe 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 thepublic domain: SBDB New namings may only beadded 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]
David J. McComas (born 1958), a professor of astrophysical sciences at Princeton University, served as a Co-Investigator on the Particles and Plasma Science Team for theNew Horizons mission toPluto.
Ralph McNutt (born 1953) is a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory. He served as a science team co-investigator and as the Principal Investigator of thePEPSSI instrument aboard theNew Horizons mission toPluto.
Sergio Fonti (1945–2018) was a planetary scientist and Professor at Lecce University. He worked on the Rosetta, Mars Express and Venus Express space missions.
Kimberly Andrews Espy (born 1963) is the former Senior Vice President for Research at theUniversity of Arizona, and was instrumental in establishing the space situational awareness initiative. A translational clinical neuroscientist and psychologist, she pioneered the integration of cognitive neuroscience tools.
Caroline M. Garcia (born 1961) is the Associate Vice President for Research at theUniversity of Arizona. She has been instrumental in the administration of research resources at the university. An accountant by training, she has served the university for more than three decades.
Mihály Vörösmarty (1800–1855) was a poet and dramatist, one of the greatest Hungarian romanticists, and a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Science. His poetry Szózat became a second national anthem, and Csongor és Tünde is one of the best Hungarian plays of the nineteenth century.
Douglas S. Mehoke (born 1956) is a thermal engineer at the Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory, and served as a Thermal Systems Engineer for theNew Horizons mission toPluto.
Eric D. Melin (born 1977) is a software engineer at the Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory, and served as the Ground Systems Lead for theNew Horizons mission toPluto.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain: SBDB New namings may only beadded 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]