Part of the fun of becoming affect in science is naming thing . Entomologists are ill-famed for branding novel metal money of insects with fanciful name , like theStar Warsfans wholabeledapoid waspsPolemistus chewbaccaandPolemistus yoda . Sometimes scientists invite the public ’s view , as in the 2016 petition by the UK ’s Natural Environment Research Council to have internet users name a polar research ship . TheydubbeditBoaty McBoatFace . ( That pick wasoverruled , and the ship is now know as theRRS Sir David Attenborough . )
Now , astronomers arelookingto outsource the name of a dwarf planet . But the catch is that there ’s no write - in ballot .
The planet , currently known as ( 225088 ) 2007 OR10 , was expose in 2007 in the Kuiper Belt orb the Sun beyond Neptune and may have a bumpy , frosty surface with a reddish tincture due to methane present in the ice-skating rink . It’sbiggerthan two other midget planet in the Kuiper Belt — HaumeaandMakemake — but humble thanPlutoandEris .
The three stargazer involved in its identification — Meg Schwamb , Mike Brown , and David Rabinowitz of Caltech ’s Palomar Observatory near San Diego , California — are lay to submit possible names for the midget major planet to the International Astronomical Union ( IAU ) . They ’ve narrow down the choices down to the following : Gongong , Holle , and Vili .
Gonggong , a Mandarin word , reference a Taiwanese water god who is reputed to have visited flowage upon the Earth . Holleis a German fairy tale character with Yuletide connotations , andViliis a Nordic deity who defeated a frost giant .
The squad is acceptingvoteson the planet ’s website through 2:59 EDT on May 11 . The win name will be passed on to the IAU for final consideration .
[ h / tGeek.com ]
