Nature:
Assigning names to new planets and other astronomical bodies is
apparently becoming a point of contention for the
International Astronomical
Union, the internationally recognized organization in
charge of the official naming process. On 12 April the IAU
issued a
press
release addressing a recent campaign by a private group to
solicit names for the planet orbiting α Centauri B.
Uwingu, a space-education
company in Boulder, Colorado, charged members of the public
$4.99 to make a nomination and $0.99 to cast a vote. The IAU
objected to the buying of naming rights and made clear that
such campaigns have no bearing on the
official naming
process, which was established in the early 20th century.
Because official catalog designations such as HD 41004 Ab can
be cumbersome, however, the IAU is now considering the adoption
of popular names for exoplanets. French astronomer Alain
Lecavelier des Etangs, chairman of the IAU exoplanet-naming
commission, says that the IAU will decide within the next six
months whether to adopt popular names, writes Alexandra Witze
for
Nature.
