Flagstaff Festival of Science 2005 - Asteroid Contest
Flagstaff Festival of Science 2005
Swing into Science!
Asteroid Naming Contest
The 2005 Flagstaff Festival of Science features a contest to come up
with a name for an asteroid. The asteroid to be named this year was discovered
by Lowell Observatory astronomer Dr. Edward Bowell, Director of the
LONEOS Project.
The asteroid's number, assigned in order of discovery, is 10724, and its
designation is 1986 VR5, indicating that it was discovered toward the end
of 1986. After nearly 20 years, it's high time it was given a proper name!
|
|
Multiple exposure image
of the 2002 Festival Asteroid
(12912) 1998 SR60
taken at the US Naval Observatory
Flagstaff Station in May 2002.
The asteroid images are the
four faint images in a slanted line near the center:
the four images were taken seven
minutes apart, and reveal the
asteroid's motion against the
background of distant stars.
Click on the image to see an animated
version of the same images (285 KB).
|
|
Since 1996, the Flagstaff Festival of Science has featured an asteroid
naming contest. From September 23 until October 3, 2005, Arizona residents
are invited to participate in this year's contest and submit suggestions
for naming an asteroid.
In addition to the privilege of naming an asteroid, the winner of the
contest receives:
- a framed photo and plaque showing the asteroid and the winning entry;
- a $50 savings bond from Northern Arizona Healthcare;
- an observing session with an astronomer using the LONEOS telescope
(Lowell Observatory Near Earth Object Survey) on Anderson Mesa just
south of Flagstaff.
|
|
Return to Festival Home Page
Webmaster@nofs.navy.mil