Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 74
BEGINNER'S SPACE by Monica Young
How Are Asteroids Named?
THERE ARE MILLIONS of asteroids in
the solar system. Some are as small
as an ostrich, while others outspan
Iceland; however, most first appear
as faint blips caught moving among
the background stars in a sequence
of photographs. So it may come as no
surprise that an asteroid's path to recognition
is long and, ahem, rocky.
What Is an Asteroid?
Functionally, an asteroid is a small,
rocky body that orbits the Sun. They're
essentially leftovers of the planet formation
that occurred in the solar system
4.6 billion years ago. Most of them
have changed little in the intervening
eons, though they can be altered by
impacts and solar heating.
Technically, " asteroid " is somewhat
trickier to define since, surprisingly,
the International Astronomical Union
(IAU) has never offered an exact definition.
Instead, in the same resolution
in which the organization set out a new
understanding of " planet " in 2006, it
also lumped together asteroids, comets,
and other objects as " small solar
system bodies. " That designation covers
anything that is not a planet, dwarf
planet, or natural satellite.
However, since the IAU defines
meteoroids as being smaller than
1 meter (3 feet), then anything larger
could logically be called an asteroid.
The smallest asteroid known to date,
2022 WJ1, is barely 1 meter across.
Most known asteroids orbit the Sun
in what's called the main belt, which
lies between the orbits of Mars and
Jupiter, 2.2 to 3.2 astronomical units
(a.u.) from the Sun. That is, their
orbits are roughly 2 to 3 times wider
than Earth's. Thousands of asteroids,
known as Trojans, share Jupiter's orbit,
at an average distance from the Sun
IAU's rules for proposed
asteroid names:
* 16 characters or less in length
* preferably one word
* pronounceable (in some language)
* not offensive or political
* must differ from existing name by
at least one letter
of 5.2 a.u. Others are renegades, with
elongated or unusual orbits. Small
objects much farther from the Sun,
near and beyond Pluto's orbit, have icy
rather than rocky compositions. But
all of these also receive designations
that follow the rules for asteroids.
A Brief History of Asteroid
Discoveries
Astronomers spotted the first asteroids
in the 19th century. On New Year's
Day of 1801, Giuseppe Piazzi was cataloging
the faint stars of Taurus when
he came across 1 Ceres (now classified
as a dwarf planet). A year later,
Wilhelm Olbers found 2 Pallas; he
later proposed that the asteroids had
once been part of a planet between the
orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The next
few years saw the announcements of 3
Juno and 4 Vesta.
Then, despite energetic efforts,
came four decades of nothing. But the
lull was only temporary: The next discovery
occurred in 1845, and by 1868,
observers had visually discovered some
100 asteroids. Driven by the advent of
photography, by the late 20th century
HISTORY OF A NAME Wilhelm Olbers discovered
Vesta in 1807 from Bremen, Germany,
while searching for more objects like Ceres
and Pallas. But Olbers didn't name Vesta;
he gave that honor to Carl Gauss, whose
calculations of the object's orbit had led to its
confirmation. Gauss named the asteroid for
the Roman goddess of the hearth and home.
74 MARCH 2024 * SKY & TELESCOPE
NASA / JPL / MPS / DLR / IDA / DANIEL MACHÁCˇ EK
Sky & Telescope - March 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - March 2024
Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - Cover1
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - Cover2
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 1
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 3
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 4
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 5
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 6
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 7
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 8
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 9
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 10
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 11
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 12
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 13
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 14
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 15
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 16
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 17
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 18
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 19
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 20
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 21
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 22
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 23
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 24
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 25
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 26
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 27
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 28
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 29
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 30
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 31
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 32
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 33
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 34
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 35
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 36
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 37
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 38
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 39
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 40
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 41
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 42
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 43
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 44
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 45
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 46
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 47
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 48
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 49
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 50
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 51
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 52
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 53
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 54
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 55
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 56
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 57
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 58
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 59
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 60
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 61
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 62
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 63
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 64
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 65
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 66
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 67
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 68
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 69
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 70
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 71
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 72
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 73
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 74
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 75
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 76
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 77
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 78
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 79
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 80
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 81
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 82
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 83
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - 84
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - Cover3
Sky & Telescope - March 2024 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com