Imagine your excitement if you discovered a new planet. The privilege of suggesting its name would be yours.
The person facing the planet-naming conundrum right now is Caltech astronomer Mike Brown. He and his team found our solar system’s tenth planet, which is larger than Pluto and currently three times farther from the Sun.
The new world has been designated 2003 UB313 by the Minor Planet Center, but Brown has already suggested a more catchy name to a 15-member panel at the International Astronomical Union, who will make the final decision. The name in question is currently being kept strictly under wraps.
Brown's team had been calling the planet Xena, after TV’s Warrior Princess. "But that was our tongue-in-cheek internal name, never intended for public consumption," he admits. Perhaps his newborn daughter, Lilah, has offered further inspiration – Brown's website on the new planet is called www.lilahsplanet.com.
Gods and characters from classical mythology have most frequently provided names for solar system worlds, but that need not stifle Brown's creativity. But he may wish to bear in mind these official guidelines:
• Names should be pronounceable, non-offensive, 16 characters or less in length and preferably one word
• Names should not be too similar to an existing name of a minor planet or natural planetary satellite
• Names for persons or events known primarily for their military or political activities are acceptable only after 100 years elapsed since the person died or the event occurred
• Names of a purely or principally commercial nature are not allowed
• Names of pet animals are discouraged
Watch this space and we will bring you the new planet's name as soon as it is announced.
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11:17 21 August 2008
