Meanings of minor planet names: 49001–50000

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. Public Domain 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]

49001–49100 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49036 Pelion 1998 QM107 Pelion, a mountain in Thessaly in central Greece, where the Centaurs were said to live JPL · 49036

49101–49200 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49106 Janry 1998 SY Jean-Richard "Janry" Geurts, Belgian comics artist and amateur astronomer IAU · 49106
49109 Agnesraab 1998 SO2 Agnes Raab (born 1969), Austrian amateur astronomer, long-time member of the Astronomical Society of Linz (German: Linzer Astronomische Gemeinschaft). The first prediscovery image of this asteroid was found on a plate exposed on her eighth birthday. She is married to Herbert Raab, also an amateur astronomer and discoverer of minor planets (Src). JPL · 49109
49110 Květafialová 1998 SU2 Květa Fialová (born 1929) is a well-known actress in Czech-Slovak cinematography and theatre, who has been active for almost 70 years JPL · 49110
49187 Zucchini 1998 SY75 Roberto Zucchini (born 1958) is an Italian theoretical physicist who teaches theoretical physics and mathematical methods at the Bologna University. His interests reside in the mathematical physics concerning theories of quantum gravity, strings and branes. JPL · 49187

49201–49300 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49272 Bryce Canyon 1998 UT16 Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, home of some of the darkest night skies in the continental United States JPL · 49272
49291 Thechills 1998 VJ The Chills are a New Zealand rock band formed in Dunedin in 1980. Images of this asteroid, taken by its discoverer Ian P. Griffin, were shown on the release of the band's new single "Rocket Science/Lost In Space". IAU · 49291

49301–49400 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49350 Katheynix 1998 WQ8 Kathey Nix (1953–2003), an American amateur astronomer, manager of theaters for the Pink Palace Museum, Memphis, Tennessee, and a founding member of the Society of Low-Energy Observers (SLO). Her enthusiasm and selfless dedication to amateur astronomy and to her many friends will be sorely missed. JPL · 49350
49382 Lynnokamoto 1998 XG5 Lynn Okamoto (born 1970) is a Japanese manga artist best known for his manga and anime series Elfen Lied. He resides in Tokyo, Japan. JPL · 49382
49384 Hubertnaudot 1998 XX9 Hubert Naudot (1913–1994), a French engineer a pioneer of astronomical calculations using personal computers in the 1980s. He worked for the French Railways (SNCF) and was involved in the creation of the astronomical association of the SNCF. He also taught astronomy to children. JPL · 49384

49401–49500 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49440 Kenzotange 1998 YP5 Kenzo Tange (1913–2005), a Japanese architect who designed many public buildings, including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Kagawa Prefectural Office and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings. JPL · 49440
49441 Scerbanenco 1998 YM6 Giorgio Scerbanenco (1911–1969) was a Ukrainian-born Italian writer, best known for his crime and detective novels. He was one of the fathers of the thriller genre in Italy. He wrote The scandal of the astronomical observatory, a thriller which revolves around the discovery of a new asteroid. JPL · 49441
49443 Marcobondi 1998 YN7 Marco Bondi (born 1963), an Italian astrophysicist who works at the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica in Bologna, where his research activity is mainly focused on radio studies of active galactic nuclei and star-forming galaxies. His multiwavelength surveys are aimed at investigating the properties and cosmological evolution of the sub-millijansky population. JPL · 49443
49448 Macocha 1998 YJ12 The Macocha Gorge, a very popular visitor site in the Czech Republic. The sinkhole is 168 meters deep and was formed in the early Pleistocene era. It is part of the Moravian Karst, a cave system created by the lost river Punkva. JPL · 49448
49466 Huanglin 1999 AX8 Huang Lin (born 1934) is an observational astrophysicist and has made significant contributions to developing the research of stellar physics at Beijing Astronomical Observatory. He shared a First Class National Science and Technology Progress Award for participating in building the first 2-meter class optical telescope in China. JPL · 49466
49469 Emilianomazzoni 1999 AL25 Emiliano Mazzoni (born 1953), is an Italian amateur astronomer from Tuscany, expert telescope maker and discoverer of minor planets and supernovae, who founded the Monte Agliale Observatory (159). JPL · 49469
49481 Gisellarubini 1999 BJ12 Gisella Rubini (born 1959), girlfriend of the Italian discoverer Matteo Santangelo. She sometimes helps him at the Monte Agliale Observatory (159). JPL · 49481
49500 Ishitoshi 1999 CP9 Toshihiro Ishikawa (born 1975) is a Japanese amateur astronomer and a key member of the Ota Astronomical Club. JPL · 49500

49501–49600 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49501 Basso 1999 CN10 Antonella Basso (born 1972), a friend of the Italian discoverer Gianluca Masi. A lawyer by profession, she has a great passion and interest in the arts, particularly in painting and cinema. JPL · 49501

49601–49700 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49698 Váchal 1999 VA Josef Váchal (1884–1969), a Czech artist whose specific work combined graphic art, wood carving, handmade printing, poetry and writing on the borderline of symbolism, secession and expressionism. His masterpieces include The Bloody Romance and Šumava mountains dying and romantic. JPL · 49698
49699 Hidetakasato 1999 VZ Hidetaka Sato (born 1978), Japanese obstetrician and an amateur astronomer interested in small Solar System bodies. He observes comets and unusual minor planets at the Gunma Astronomical Observatory (D80) and at the Rent-a-Scope observatories. JPL · 49699
49700 Mather 1999 VN1 John C. Mather (born 1946), an American cosmologist and senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. He led the team that constructed the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE). For his role in mapping microwave radiation and understanding the early Universe he received the 2006 Nobel prize in physics. JPL · 49700

49701–49800 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49702 Koikeda 1999 VC2 Chuzo Koikeda (born 1928), a Japanese amateur astronomer, was president of "Kanazawa hoshinokai", an astronomy club in Kanazawa, from 1962 to 2002. His wife Yoko Koikeda (born 1932), also an amateur astronomer, is a serious observer of the Sun, solar eclipses and aurorae. JPL · 49702
49777 Cappi 1999 XS Margaret Capitola Sonntag Comba (born 1940), second wife of American amateur astronomer Paul G. Comba, who discovered this minor planet. She is a psychologist and art therapist by profession and a faculty member at Prescott College. JPL · 49777

49801–49900 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
There are no named minor planets in this number range

49901–50000 edit

Named minor planet Provisional This minor planet was named for... Ref · Catalog
49987 Bonata 2000 AB5 Diego Bonata (born 1968), an Italian aerospace engineer who has promoted laws for the control of light pollution and energy saving through the Cielobuio Association, of which he is president. At the Carl Sagan Observatory in Brignano Gera d´Adda he has developed new environmentally compatible technologies for lighting engineering. JPL · 49987
50000 Quaoar 2002 LM60 Quaoar, a creation deity in Tongva mythology. The Tongva are the indigenous people of the Los Angeles basin. Quaoar has no form or gender and dances and sings Weywot, Sky Father, into existence. Together, they create Chehooit, Earth Mother, and the trio bring Tamit, Grandfather Sun, to life. JPL · 50000

References edit

  1. ^ "WGSBN Bulletin Archive". Working Group Small Body Nomenclature. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  3. ^ "JPL – Solar System Dynamics: Discovery Circumstances". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  4. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – Addendum to Fifth Edition: 2003–2005. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. ISBN 978-3-540-34360-8. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. ^ Herget, Paul (1968). The Names of the Minor Planets. Cincinnati, Ohio: Minor Planet Center, Cincinnati Observatory. OCLC 224288991.
  7. ^ "Guide to Minor Body Astrometry – When can I name my discovery?". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Minor Planet Naming Guidelines (Rules and Guidelines for naming non-cometary small Solar-System bodies) – v1.0" (PDF). Working Group Small Body Nomenclature (PDF). 20 December 2021.


Preceded by Meanings of minor planet names
List of minor planets: 49,001–50,000
Succeeded by