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.
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]
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333001 Calloway | 2011 HB38 | Andrew Calloway (b. 1967), the Mission Operations Manager for the US OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return mission. | IAU · 333001 |
| 333003 Espiritu | 2011 HP58 | Raymond Espiritu (b. 1971), an American software developer of the Altimetry Working Group data product pipeline for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. | IAU · 333003 |
| 333005 Haberle | 2011 JV15 | Christopher Haberle (b. 1985), an American geologist. | IAU · 333005 |
| 333018 Devin | 2011 QE28 | Devin Poland (b. 1986), an American engineer. | IAU · 333018 |
| 333029 Sallitt | 2011 SK32 | Debbie Sallitt (b. 1967), the Financial Manager for the OSIRIS-Rex Mission. | IAU · 333029 |
| 333033 Yutakahashi | 2011 SO66 | Yu Takahashi (b. 1986), a Japanese-American scientist. | IAU · 333033 |
| 333035 Pelgrift | 2011 SX90 | John Pelgrift (b. 1994) worked on the navigation teams for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission and the New Horizons Kuiper Extended Mission. | IAU · 333035 |
| 333036 Sahr | 2011 SC91 | Eric Sahr (b. 1990), an Optical Navigation Engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333036 |
| 333040 Dalehowell | 2011 SF115 | Dale K. Howell (b. 1959), the Touch-and-Go Phase Lead for the OSIRIS-Rex Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333040 |
| 333043 Courtneymario | 2011 SU129 | Courtney Mario (b. 1987), an American engineer. | IAU · 333043 |
| 333050 Olds | 2011 SA174 | Ryan Olds (b. 1981), an American engineer. | IAU · 333050 |
| 333052 Skeen | 2011 SQ185 | Michael Skeen (b. 1990), an American engineer. | IAU · 333052 |
| 333054 Bloomquist | 2011 SK200 | Leif Bloomquist (b. 1973), a Canadian engineer. | IAU · 333054 |
| 333055 Liang | 2011 SC223 | Jason Liang (b. 1988), a Canadian engineer. | IAU · 333055 |
| 333056 Bellamy | 2011 SE226 | Kelly Scott Bellamy (b. 1965), the Mission Manager for the OSIRIS-REx Mission. | IAU · 333056 |
| 333057 Bowles | 2011 SO234 | Neil Bowles (b. 1970), a British meteoriticist. | IAU · 333057 |
| 333059 Audi | 2011 SG261 | Edward Audi (b. 1973), an American engineer. | IAU · 333059 |
| 333061 Joshuanelson | 2011 TD13 | Joshua Nelson (b. 1985), an American engineer. | IAU · 333061 |
| 333065 Zeszut | 2011 UX17 | Zoe Zeszut (b. 1993), an Operations Engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission | IAU · 333065 |
| 333076 Claudiamanzoni | 2011 UL80 | Claudia Manzoni (b. 1967), an Italian stereo-image collaborator on the OSIRIS-REx Mission. | IAU · 333076 |
| 333079 Keara | 2011 UP112 | Keara Burke (b. 1996) worked on the OSIRIS-REx Mission as a systems and data analyst engineer. | IAU · 333079 |
| 333081 Cutts | 2011 UM122 | Jonathan Cutts (b. 1983), a Planning Specialist on the OSIRIS-REx mission. | IAU · 333081 |
| 333089 Dean | 2011 UD175 | David Dean (b. 1980), an American programmer. | IAU · 333089 |
| 333096 Brittanyenos | 2011 UC248 | Brittany Enos (b. 1994), the digital communications lead on the OSIRIS-REx mission . | IAU · 333096 |
| 333097 Andrewgardner | 2011 UT248 | Andrew Gardner (b. 1979), an American computer programmer | IAU · 333097 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333101 Lovelace | 2011 UE298 | Brian Lovelace (b. 1993), an American software engineer | IAU · 333101 |
| 333106 Lujan | 2011 UG311 | Michael N. Lujan (b. 1994), a program coordinator. | IAU · 333106 |
| 333107 McDonough | 2011 US353 | Eva C. McDonough (b. 1966), the Database Administrator for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission | IAU · 333107 |
| 333110 Lupe | 2011 UZ384 | Guadalupe “Lupe” Cota Collins (1935–1989), the mother of Rosie Cope, an Executive Assistant for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333110 |
| 333119 Sharonhelms | 2011 WF7 | Sharon R. Helms (1962–2017), mother of Jacob and Olivia, a financial analyst at NASA supporting the OSIRIS-REx mission. | IAU · 333119 |
| 333120 Blum | 2011 WN7 | Denise Blum (b. 1965), an American administrator. | IAU · 333120 |
| 333125 Maestas | 2011 WT52 | Alexander J. Maestas (b. 1991) is an American systems engineer. He is a Real-Time Operator for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. Previously, Alexander has supported ground/space operations as a Systems/Radio-Frequency Engineer for several satellite programs as well as the Air Force Satellite Control Network. | IAU · 333125 |
| 333134 Alexandrahilbert | 2011 WY123 | Alexandra Hilbert (b. 1991) is an American systems engineer. She was a Mission Operations Systems Engineer on the OSIRIS-REx mission from 2017 through 2019. During this time, Alexandra supported Science Phase operations development and led a variety of flight activities. She has also worked on the Juno, Lucy, and Human Landing System programs. | IAU · 333134 |
| 333138 Bellabrodbeck | 2011 YW4 | Juliette Isabella “Bella” Brodbeck (b. 1999) is an American geospatial analyst specializing in the remote sensing of asteroid surfaces. She performed image-based hazard analyses of (101955) Bennu for the OSIRIS-REx mission and contributed to the NASAsponsored development of global image mosaics for (101955) Bennu and (433) Eros. | IAU · 333138 |
| 333139 Deguzman | 2011 YM8 | Angelica Deguzman (b. 1995) is an American engineer who was a Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer for OSIRIS-REx. She also supports other Deep Space Exploration programs at Lockheed Martin such as InSight, Dragonfly, and Advanced Programs as a Guidance, Navigation, and Control engineer. | IAU · 333139 |
| 333146 Austin | 2011 AH20 | Austin Fisher (b. 1980) is an American engineer. He was the Electrical Power Subsystem Lead for the OSIRIS-REx mission. Prior to this role Austin supported the development of OSIRIS-REx as the Electrical Systems Engineer during assembly, test, and integration. | IAU · 333146 |
| 333157 Buck | 2012 BO78 | Beth Buck (b. 1967) is an American spacecraft program manager. She was the Program Manager for the Lockheed Martin Deep Space Exploration Mission Operations that includes OSIRIS-REx, MAVEN, InSight, Juno, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey and Hubble, and previously the Spitzer telescope. | IAU · 333157 |
| 333172 Danielellis | 2012 CR71 | Daniel R. Ellis (b. 1991) is the American contracts negotiator lead for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. He is the main customer interface for contractual matters, ensuring contract compliance as well as submitting and negotiating proposal efforts for current or future work to the program. | IAU · 333172 |
| 333178 Sivaperuman | 2012 DZ16 | Sivaperuman Muniyasamy, Indian aerospace engineer and Ph.D. candidate in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Arizona. | IAU · 333178 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333242 Ericthomasparker | 2012 HG65 | Eric Thomas Parker, American analytical chemist who is a member of the sample analysis team for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333242 |
| 333251 Jamesroberts | 2012 JJ1 | James Roberts, American planetary scientist. | IAU · 333251 |
| 333288 Markperry | 1999 SU14 | Mark Perry, American planetary scientist. He played a key role in the planning and analysis of data from the OSIRIS-REx laser altimeter and constrained the strength of Bennu's surface materials through analysis of impact ejecta. | IAU · 333288 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333384 Huikang | 2002 QC151 | Huikang Ma, American guidance, navigation, and control engineer for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. | IAU · 333384 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333487 De Rose | 2004 VV59 | Marcos R. De Rose, American systems engineer and real-time operator for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. | IAU · 333487 |
| 333490 Klaus | 2004 XC9 | Mary A. Klaus, American engineer. She is the simulation integrator for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. I | IAU · 333490 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333502 Candelaria | 2005 EW67 | Patricia L Candelaria, the American information technology program manager for OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333502 |
| 333506 Falkenstern | 2005 JK32 | Paul Falkenstern, American engineer. He is the ground data systems lead for the Lockheed Martin's deep space exploration missions, including the OSIRIS-Rex asteroid sample return mission. | IAU · 333506 |
| 333508 Voiture | 2005 KJ11 | Vincent Voiture (1597–1648), a French poet and prosateur. | JPL · 333508 |
| 333511 Paulfleming | 2005 MR4 | Paul V. Fleming, American Engineer who is the flight software subsystem lead for the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission operations team. | IAU · 333511 |
| 333514 Kallemeyn | 2005 NP10 | Pieter Kallemeyn Jr., American engineer. He was the fault protection engineer for Phase B of OSIRIS-REx before moving to the InSight Mars Lander as system design lead/spacecraft team lead. | IAU · 333514 |
| 333531 Prestonsherman | 2005 SU5 | Preston Sherman (b. 1990) is an American engineer. He supported OSIRIS-REx during development in Denver, the launch campaign at Kennedy Space Center, and during flight operations from cruise to Proximity Operations to TAG. | IAU · 333531 |
| 333536 Faelan | 2005 SG127 | Randall M. H. Faelan, American engineer who leads the real-time commanding of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. | IAU · 333536 |
| 333539 Rayfranco | 2005 SU220 | Ray Franco, American Mission Operations Flight Software Engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333539 |
| 333541 Roissier | 2005 TT14 | Russell F. Roissier, American spacecraft test lab engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333541 |
| 333544 Dubisher | 2005 TR175 | Ryan D. Dubisher, American test engineer. His work with the OSIRISREx mission's Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism supported early innovation to flight qualification. | IAU · 333544 |
| 333545 Sarasanders | 2005 UW43 | Sara M. Sanders, American test engineer for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333545 |
| 333546 Perkins | 2005 UA44 | Trevor Perkins, American systems engineer and Real Time Operator for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. | IAU · 333546 |
| 333551 Albaugh | 2005 UR141 | Tyler D. Albaugh, American Flight Software Engineer for OSIRIS-REx. Prior to OSIRIS-REx. | IAU · 333551 |
| 333553 Salvador | 2005 UN460 | Salvador Martinez III, American engineer. | IAU · 333553 |
| 333565 Rani | 2006 AJ34 | Rani Chohan Gran, American science communicator and chemist. | IAU · 333565 |
| 333591 Emilykeates | 2007 CM29 | Emily Keates, Canadian engineer who worked on the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA). | IAU · 333591 |
| 333594 Zabala | 2007 EW17 | Jessa Zabala, Canadian engineer who worked on the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter. | IAU · 333594 |
| 333597 Alexbjurstrom | 2007 FU16 | Alexandra “Alex” Bjurstrom, Canadian engineer who worked on the OSIRIS REx Laser Altimeter. | IAU · 333597 |
| 333599 Rathan | 2007 GH | Rathan “Ray” Balasingam, Canadian technician who built the OSIRISREx Laser Altimeter. | IAU · 333599 |
| 333600 Dietrich | 2007 GB7 | Peter Dietric, Canadian optics specialist. | IAU · 333600 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333601 Curtiscalva | 2008 GG18 | Curtis David Calva, American astromaterials processor and member of the OSIRIS-REx | IAU · 333601 |
| 333608 Michaelkaye | 2007 LA3 | Michael Kaye, American systems engineer who was a spacecraft technician at Lockheed Martin involved in OSIRIS-REx spacecraft assembly. | IAU · 333608 |
| 333614 Boyd | 2007 RN247 | Emma Boyd, American engineer who was a Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer for OSIRIS-REx. | IAU · 333614 |
| 333617 Markjohnson | 2007 TX82 | Mark A. Johnson, an American engineer. He was the Entry, Descent and Landing Lead for the OSIRIS-REx mission. | 333617|333617} |
| 333626 Huerta | 2008 AT10 | Lorenzo “Larry” Huerta, American spacecraft IT systems engineer. Throughout his career, he has supported ISS/Shuttle programs and provided IT systems support for several spacecraft missions. | 333626|333626} |
| 333634 Maryhinkle | 2008 GG128 | Mary L. Hinkle, American planetary scientist. | IAU · 333634 |
| 333636 Reboul | 2008 QF7 | Henri Reboul (born 1946), a French cosmologist. | JPL · 333636 |
| 333639 Yaima | 2008 QL16 | The Yaeyama Islands (local name "Yaima"), located at the southernmost end of Japan | JPL · 333639 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 333717 Alexgreaves | 2009 SE41 | Alexander Richard Brian Greaves (born 2000), grandson of British discoverer Norman Falla | JPL · 333717 |
| 333744 Pau | 2009 YW6 | Pau Bosch-Pellicer (born 2007) is the first grandson of the discoverer. | IAU · 333744 |
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| There are no named minor planets in this number range | |||
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| There are no named minor planets in this number range | |||