Name
The naming of Nessus is an interesting break from tradition. Three astrologers were independently studying 1993 HA2 to see if it had any astrological significance. These were Zane B. Stein in the USA, and Dieter Koch and Robert Von Heeren in Germany. In separate letters to astronomers David L. Rabinowitz, Alan Stern, Jim Scotti and Dr. Brian Marsden, these astrologers suggested naming the body after the mythological centaur Nessus.
Dr. Marsden gave his support to the suggested name, and recommended it to the IAU. This name was approved, and 1993 HA2 was officially named 7066 Nessus on April 22, 1997. This naming was an unprecedented cooperation between astrologers and astronomers.
Read more about this topic: 7066 Nessus
Famous quotes containing the word name:
“What is it? a learned man
Could give it a clumsy name.
Let him name it who can,
The beauty would be the same.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)
“Name any name and then remember everybody you ever knew who bore than name. Are they all alike. I think so.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)