Want to name asteroids that orbit the Sun? Here is how you can do it

For space fans, the International Astronomical Union and WNYC’s award-winning science podcast, Radiolab, invited people worldwide to take the opportunity to suggest a name for one of Earth's quasi-moons which are asteroids that orbit the Sun. Submissions are open until 30 September and the winning name will receive official recognition by the IAU.

"The organisations have now teamed up to invite a global audience to engage with this field of astronomy through a new naming contest for one of Earth’s quasi-moons," said the statement of IAU.

“We’re excited to bring people together around something that unites us across timezones, national borders, languages, and all manner of differences – our shared sky,” said Latif Nasser, co-host of Radiolab.



What are Quasi Moons?
Quasi-moons of a planet are asteroids that orbit the Sun and follow a path similar to that of the planet. Due to the relative motion of the two objects, it appears as though the asteroid is orbiting the planet from the perspective of an observer on the planet’s surface. If a quasi-moon is near the Earth, it might seem as if we have a new moon, even though it is hardly affected by the Earth's gravitational pull.

By taking part in “Name a Quasi-Moon!”, people across the world will have the chance to leave their mark on our sky with official recognition from the world’s authority responsible for assigning names to objects in our Solar System and beyond. By involving the IAU’s wide international network, the collaboration will reach new audiences, ensuring our sky will be more representative of the world’s diverse ideas, cultures, perspectives, and ways of knowing.

How to take part in the contest?

• 1 June - 30 September: People everywhere can submit a name and short description (called a citation) for consideration via the competition website.
• October: A panel of RadioLab staff, IAU members, and special guest consultants will select 10 finalists.
• Early November: Shortlisted names will be out and host a popular vote until the end of December to decide the winning name.
• Mid-January 2025: The winning name will be officially announced in the Bulletin of the IAU Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN).

The 10 finalist names will be selected based on their adherence to the naming convention set by the WGSBN, the name’s creativity and uniqueness, and its relevance to the science of quasi-moons, as described in the accompanying citation.