Dr Rok Nežič, a Slovenian space scientist, and Shane Kelly, a principal meteorological observer, have been honored with asteroids named after them. Nežič, who works as a tours and outreach officer at the Armagh Planetarium, was chosen for his work in space and climate physics. His asteroid, (20560) Nežič, is a 10.9km-wide rock in the asteroid belt, orbiting the Sun like the Earth. Kelly, who has been taking weather readings at the observatory for 27 years, has had an asteroid named (7050) Shanekelly. His dedication to recording weather data has earned him recognition, with his hand having entered more lines of data than any of his predecessors. The naming process for small bodies in the solar system is governed by the International Astronomical Union, and asteroids can be named by their discoverers once their orbits are sufficiently known. The Armagh Planetarium and Observatory has a long history of contributions to astronomy and meteorology, with 29 asteroids now having some connection to the institution. The recognition of Nežič and Kelly's work is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the team at the Armagh Planetarium and Observatory. Their contributions to our understanding of the universe and the weather are invaluable, and it is fitting that they have been honored in this way.
Humanity
'Rok' solid recognition for Slovenian space scientist
Prepared with AI assistance; not independently fact-checked. Original source: BBC News