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]
Theʻakialoa are a group of birds that were native to theHawaiian Islands. They had a long, curved bill that took up one-third of their body length, and had yellow plumage. The ʻakialoa are now extinct on Oʻahu and Maui, and likely on Kauaʻi.
Betty Hinsdale Hesser (born 1938), passionately curious about, and gifted in languages, music and science, generously shares in an easily accessible manner her extensive knowledge, particularly about astronomy and reptiles, with people of all ages to address common misunderstandings and stimulate broader comprehension of nature.
Sauron is a fictional character inJ. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novelThe Lord of the Rings. He created the One Ring to rule the rings of power. Due to Sauron's war-like nature, a Mars-crossing minor planet was chosen to receive his name.
Glenn Orton (born 1948) is a senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and principal investigator of atmospheric structures of both Jupiter and Saturn. He is a member of the American Astronomical Society and the IAU, as well as the American and European Geophysical Unions.
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]