Flutterby™! : Name that Orb!

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Name that Orb!

2005-08-01 19:15:06.051669+00 by petronius 3 comments

Reports on the recent discovery of a 10th, trans-plutonian planet mention that the finders are referring to it as Xena, as in the Warrior Princess. While it seems unlikely that the Astrophysical Union will accept that name, it does give us an opportunity. What should we call it? Charon, the ferryman of Hades is an obvious name, but it has been given already to as distant planetoid. Since the new object has an orbit that takes it from the most outer darkness to the relative warmth of Pluto's path, perhaps Persephone would do. Or should we go farther afield? Any suggestions? I personally like Chomsky, since the object is icy, useless and is on a wildly eccentric orbit.

[ related topics: Cool Science Space & Astronomy ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: Planet X made: 2005-08-01 23:10:05.609368+00 by: Dave Goodman

I'm rather partial to simply calling it Planet X. That connotes not only its position in the solar system, but also its mystery.

Other candidates:

Newton, after Sir Isaac Copernicus Clarke, after Sir Arthur Odysseus, who journeyed far Kepler, famous astronomer Athena, famous for wisdom, which seems to be lacking here in the inner orbits Shalmaneser, after the computer in John Brunner's "Stand on Zanzibar"

#Comment Re: made: 2005-08-03 17:02:16.690651+00 by: radix

I'm voting for Goddard.

radix

#Comment Re: made: 2005-08-04 20:46:40.915022+00 by: barfbrain99

If the criterion is "icy, useless and is on a wildly eccentric orbit" then how about naming it Petronius?