On 2026 April 13 the IAU Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) published a list of new, officially named minor planets (asteroids).
Discovery: 1992-09-30 / H. E. Holt / Palomar Mountain / 675
"David Bell (b. 1964) is an American astronomer who received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After working for over twenty years at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, he became a staff member of the Minor Planet Center in 2018, where he made significant contributions to their processing system." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (5920) Davidbell = 1992 SX
Discovery: 1996-03-22 / NEAT / Haleakala / 566
"Bruce Willis (b. 1955) is an American actor famous for playing John McClane in the Die Hard movie series. He significantly raised public awareness of planetary defense with his lead role in the 1998 film Armageddon, which remains the go-to pop culture reference for media stories about the possibility of comet or asteroid impacts with Earth." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (9660) Brucewillis = 1996 FW
(18529) Liangdongcai = 1996 WK
Discovery: 1996-11-28 / Beijing Schmidt CCD Asteroid Program / Xinglong County / 327
"Liang Dongcai (1932–2026) was a renowned biophysicist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was the founder of the X-ray protein crystallography and structural biology fields in China, and made outstanding contributions to the establishment and development of structural biology in China." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (18529) Liangdongcai = 1996 WK
Discovery: 1994-12-01 / Spacewatch / Kitt Peak / 691
"Robert John Sullivan, Jr. (1962–2026) was an American planetary scientist who studied surface geologic processes on Mars, Europa, and several asteroids. He was a pioneering expert on aeolian and gradational processes: the way wind and/or gravity can move regolith materials on diverse worlds across the solar system to help reveal their geologic histories." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (20101) Robsullivan = 1994 XM
Discovery: 1998-12-11 / O. A. Naranjo / Mérida / 303
"Kazimieras Černis (b. 1958) is a Lithuanian astronomer at the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University. His work includes stellar photometry, studies of interstellar dust clouds, and astrometry of small Solar System bodies. Černis has contributed to the discovery of comets and hundreds of asteroids." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (29692) Černis = 1998 XE
(31384) Joséloisestévez = 1998 XE
Discovery: 1998-12-11 / O. A. Naranjo / Mérida / 303
"José Lois Estévez (1922–2009) was a Spanish Professor of Epistemology at the University of Santiago de Compostela, as well as a poet and astronomer. A disciple of Ramón María Aller Ulloa, he built Spain's most powerful telescope during the 1960s. In his legal work, he sought to transform Law into an exact science by applying the rigor of scientific thought." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (31384) Joséloisestévez = 1998 XE
(46588) Murakamimasayuki = 1992 WR
Discovery: 1992-11-16 / K. Endate, K. Watanabe / Kitami / 400
"Masayuki Murakami (b. 1963) is a Japanese amateur astronomer and a staff member at the Jododaira Astronomical Observatory in Fukushima City. In addition to his astronomy outreach activities, he has recently been focusing on teaching courses on photographing nebulae and star clusters using electronic telescopic observation." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (46588) Murakamimasayuki = 1992 WR
Discovery: 1992-11-16 / K. Endate, K. Watanabe / Kitami / 400
"Kazuyoshi Fukusako (b. 1968) is a Japanese systems engineer and amateur astronomer. He is currently one of the leaders of the astronomy volunteers at the Kitakyushu City Science Museum. Kazuyoshi is also a member of the Oriental Astronomical Association, and his beautiful starry sky photographs are well known in Kitakyushu." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (46589) Fukusako = 1992 WU
(47852) Frankydubois = 2000 EQ
Discovery: 2000-03-02 / CSS / Mount Bigelow / 703
"Franky Dubois (b. 1951) is a Belgian amateur astronomer who has been an avid solar observer since 1982. He has logged 11000 observations determining five different relative daily values: Wolf number, Beck Classification Value, Pettis Index, and Intersol Index, all together accounting for just over 50000 total data points." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (47852) Frankydubois = 2000 EQ
Discovery: 1985-08-24 / N. S. Chernykh / Nauchnyj / 095
"Rustam B. Rustamov (b. 1955), Azerbaijani scientist and researcher, is noted for his contributions to the development of Azerbaijan’s space industry and for his work in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, advancing applications of space technology and geospatial science." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (52263) Rustamov = 1985 QD
(53119) Matthiasgoerne = 1999 AV
Discovery: 1999-01-13 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Matthias Goerne (b. 1967) is a German baritone. A leading specialist and performer of Lieder, particularly Schubert, he also devotes much of his career to the German opera repertoire. Matthias performs with the world's greatest artists, particularly in Paris, in numerous recitals and operas, and has recorded many albums that have won prestigious awards." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (53119) Matthiasgoerne = 1999 AV
Discovery: 1999-01-21 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Marc Moniez (b. 1958) is a French astrophysicist, one of the founders of the EROS (Expérience de Recherche d’Objets Sombres) program, and one of the discoverers of the first gravitational microlensing effects. He has devoted most of his career to searching for hidden galactic matter in the form of compact objects and molecular gas." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (53141) Marcmoniez = 1999 BW
(57561) Gabrielegiuli = 2001 TA
Discovery: 2001-10-14 / Asiago-DLR Asteroid Survey / Cima Ekar / 209
"Gabriele Giuli (b. 1970) is an Italian mineralogist who is an Associate Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Camerino, Italy. His principal fields of research are the synthesis and characterization of crystalline and amorphous materials, in particular impact glasses, and meteorite classification." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (57561) Gabrielegiuli = 2001 TA
(64840) Cristinapauselli = 2001 YW
Discovery: 2001-12-19 / Asiago-DLR Asteroid Survey / Cima Ekar / 209
"Cristina Pauselli (b. 1971) is an Italian Associate Professor of Geophysics at the University of Perugia, Italy. In addition to her research on crustal and mantle modeling and heat-flow studies, she participated in the preliminary studies of the BepiColombo and ExoMars missions and in the study of a subsurface radar for the EJSM/LAPLACE mission." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (64840) Cristinapauselli = 2001 YW
(65937) Hervéconstans = 1998 FZ
Discovery: 1998-03-26 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Hervé Constans (b. 1998) is a French electronics engineer. He was the lead developer of a radiometer dedicated to the FRIPON fireball network. Hervé is not only a passionate about the Pic du Midi observatory, he also divides his time between producing organic honey, cider and wine in the Albi region." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (65937) Hervéconstans = 1998 FZ
Discovery: 1998-07-29 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Les Shadoks was a French animated television series broadcast from 1968 to 1974. The Shadoks were bird-like characters, living on the two-dimensional planet Shadok. The show used several phrases still used today in France, including “why do it the easy way when you can do it the hard way?”. Many of these phrases apply to engineering." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (66002) Shadoks = 1998 OL
(66097) Maximelebreton = 1998 SB
Discovery: 1998-09-17 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Maxime Lebreton (b. 1967) is a French electronics engineer working at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. He worked on a radiometer dedicated to the FRIPON meteor network. Maxime is also part of the team of the 1-meter telescope at the Pic du Midi Observatory, where his expertise in detecting and repairing electronic faults is highly appreciated." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (66097) Maximelebreton = 1998 SB
Discovery: 1999-01-20 / ODAS / Caussols / 910
"Isabelle Bosc (b. 1961) is a French researcher at the Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon, specializing mainly in optical interferometry (OI). She contributed significantly to GI2T, the first visible-wavelength interferometer utilizing two large apertures. Isabelle has always been involved in software development and in user support to make OI easier." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (66197) Isabosc = 1999 BO
Discovery: 2002-01-09 / Asiago-DLR Asteroid Survey / Cima Ekar / 209
"Yuri Skorov (b. 1959) is a Russian planetary scientist based in Germany. He has made significant contributions to cometary science, especially in thermal modeling and in understanding the transport of gas and particles across cometary surfaces, helping to link physical theory with spacecraft and observational data." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (68585) Skorov = 2002 AY
Discovery: 1999-10-03 / B. D. McCormack, D. W. Carona / Nacogdoches / 740
"Don Carona (1964–2025) was an American astronomer at Texas A&M University. An educator, his dedication to observational astronomy and public outreach inspired countless students and community members. Don participated in minor-planet observing programs, including work at the Stephen F. Austin State University Observatory, where this object was discovered." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (102216) Carona = 1999 TG
(149270) Andreacimatti = 2002 TG
Discovery: 2002-10-02 / CINEOS / Campo Imperatore / 599
"Andrea Cimatti (b. 1964) is an Italian full professor of galaxy formation and evolution at Bologna University. One of the founders of ESA’s Euclid space mission, he plays a fundamental role in studying dark matter and dark energy. In addition to teaching and research, Andrea is active in scientific communication." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (149270) Andreacimatti = 2002 TG
Discovery: 2002-04-14 / W. K. Y. Yeung / J-Six Ranchettes / 333
"Koo Junyup (b. 1969) is a South Korean musician and DJ best known as a member of the duo Clon, which helped shaped the early evolution of K-pop dance music in the 1990s. Through high-energy performances and club-influenced sound, he helped shape electronic dance elements in mainstream Korean pop and influenced later K-pop production styles." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (208664) Koojunyup = 2002 GN
(262284) Kanišauskas = 2006 SA
Discovery: 2006-09-24 / K. Černis, J. Zdanavičius * / Molėtai / 152
"Saulius Kanišauskas (b. 1945) is a Lithuanian philosopher, science popularizer, and former astronomy educator. From 1977 to 1992 he was director of the Vilnius Planetarium, where he actively promoted public interest in astronomy and science. Kanišauskas has written numerous books on philosophy, including works on relationship between science and religion." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (262284) Kanišauskas = 2006 SA
Discovery: 2005-03-13 / K. Černis, J. Zdanavičius * / Molėtai / 152
"Vaidotas Jasevičius (1933–2011) was a Lithuanian astronomer and mathematician who worked in stellar photometry. An expert in stellar dynamics, galactic structure, interstellar extinction and photometric classification of stars, he authored more than 20 scientific papers and wrote several popular science articles." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 10]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (280686) Jasevičius = 2005 EU
Discovery: 2007-01-19 / P. A. Wiegert / Maunakea / 568
"German-born space scientist Arik Posner (b. 1968) created ReleASE (Relativistic Electron Alert System for Exploration). It warns astronauts of solar radiation events. He also designed the first dedicated radiation detector placed on another planet, Mars, on the NASA Curiosity rover. With it, on the way to Mars, Arik discovered the Hohmann-Parker effect." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (312676) Posner = 2010 MF
Discovery: 2006-09-14 / J. Masiero / Maunakea / 568
"David P. Flynn (b. 1961) is an American computer scientist who is the head of computing at Caltech/IPAC, where he assists with multiple scientific missions and archives. He is also an avid amateur astronomer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (314703) Davidflynn = 2006 RN
Discovery: 2006-09-14 / J. Masiero / Maunakea / 568
"Michael P. JasonSmith (1977–2026) was a New Zealander computer scientist and software engineer. His dissertation focused on human-computer interactions. Most recently he worked on developing visualization and data-management tools for the geosciences." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (345574) Michael = 2006 RN
(378810) Deniserothrock = 2008 SG
Discovery: 2008-09-28 / R. Holmes * / Charleston / H55
"Denise Rothrock (b. 1960) is an American middle- and high-school science teacher. She taught astronomy to Texan students for sixteen years. Denise has been an IASC volunteer since 2008, helping international students to make asteroid discoveries. Name suggested by Madisonville Junior High students who participated in the IASC." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (378810) Deniserothrock = 2008 SG
Discovery: 2012-11-14 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
"Eurytus was a centaur in Greek mythology, known for taking part in the famous battle between the centaurs and the Lapiths." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (463368) Eurytus = 2012 VU
Discovery: 2007-11-07 / R. Holmes * / Charleston / H55
"Endeavor means “to strive for” or “make an earnest attempt to achieve.” Both the US Apollo 15's Lunar Module and a Space Shuttle were named Endeavor and accomplished bold discoveries in their missions. Name suggested by students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Fairfax County Virginia, USA, who participated in the IASC." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (470423) Endeavor = 2007 VN
Discovery: 2014-06-05 / CSS / Mount Bigelow / 703
"Nabu was the Mesopotamian god of writing and wisdom, and the patron of scribes in Babylonian mythology. He was associated with literacy, scholarship and the keeping of written records." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 11]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (533671) Nabu = 2014 LJ
Discovery: 2013-09-28 / T. Csörgei, K. Sárneczky * / Piszkés-tető / 461
"Gregor “Geri” Németh (b. 1974) is a Slovakian amateur astronomer from Lehnice. He is an astronomy club leader and keen meteor observer. Németh's main area of interest is the history of astronomy, and he is also a passionate science-fiction reader." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (563707) Némethgeri = 2016 EZ
(595583) Annabelkarun = 2003 OR
Discovery: 2003-07-31 / D. D. Balam, K. M. Perrett / Maunakea / 568
"Annabel K. S. Karunananth (b. 2020) is the daughter of Canadian astronomers Helen Kirk (National Research Council of Canada) and Karun Thanjavur (University of Victoria). The parents are close friends of the first discoverer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (595583) Annabelkarun = 2003 OR
(595901) Lilybeaurepaire = 2004 MG
Discovery: 2004-06-23 / J. Pittichová, J. Bedient / Maunakea / 568
"Lillian de Beaurepaire (1892–1979) was an Australian Olympic swimmer and diver. She competed in the 1920 Olympics at Antwerp. She served as a lifesaver at Lorne Beach, Victoria, and is credited with saving 50 people from drowning, including a widely publicized heroic save of three men from rough surf in 1933." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (595901) Lilybeaurepaire = 2004 MG
Discovery: 2012-11-13 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
"Florent Constant Bertiau (1919–1995) was a Belgian Jesuit who worked at the Vatican Observatory. He founded its Data Center in 1965, pioneered computerized data analysis, and led vital research on artificial sky pollution and stellar distributions in our galaxy." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (688696) Bertiau = 2012 VH
Discovery: 2003-01-07 / F. Hormuth / La Silla / 809
"Gunda Hormuth (b. 1947) is the mother of the discoverer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (721153) Gunda = 2003 AM
Discovery: 2003-01-07 / F. Hormuth / La Silla / 809
"Heinz Georg Hormuth (b. 1943) is the father of the discoverer. Heinz is a retired civil engineer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (721154) Heinz = 2003 AQ
(733086) Virgiliupop = 2014 OZ
Discovery: 2012-02-27 / EURONEAR / Roque de los Muchachos / 950
"Virgiliu Pop (b. 1974) is a Romanian space lawyer and educator, whose past work at the Romanian Space Agency gained international recognition. A member of the International Academy of Astronautics, he has pioneered research and legislation on space resources, his book Who Owns the Moon? shaping the legal status of asteroids and other celestial bodies." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 12]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (733086) Virgiliupop = 2014 OZ
Discovery: 2011-06-04 / EURONEAR / Cerro Tololo / 807
"Michael G. Richer (b. 1964) is a Canadian astronomer of the Instituto de Astronomía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. He has held leadership positions in administration and on instrumental projects, in addition to teaching regularly and contributing to outreach. Michael has published over 90 refereed papers, focusing mainly upon planetary nebulae." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (755002) Richer = 2016 WS
Discovery: 1991-08-05 / D. M. Rehner / Cerro Tololo / 807
"Ian Cooper (b. 1955) is an American amateur astronomer and a lifelong member of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society. He was instrumental in securing the land for the society's Indian Hill Observatory. Ian worked at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center on the Landsat and Hubble Space Telescope projects during the 1980s and 1990s." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (826870) Iancooper = 1991 PN
Discovery: 2010-05-05 / K. Černis, I. Eglītis / Baldone / 069
"Nida is a small resort town in Lithuania, located on the Curonian Spit between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. It was first mentioned in 1385 in documents issued by the Teutonic Knights. Nida is famous for its beautiful sand dunes and unique natural landscape. It is part of the Neringa municipality and has a population of 1500 permanent residents." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (833362) Nida = 2010 JN
(836275) Pietromaffi = 2012 HS
Discovery: 2012-04-25 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
"Pietro Cardinal Maffi (1858–1931), Archbishop of Pisa, served as President of the Vatican Observatory from 1904 till his death in 1931, and recommended to entrust the Vatican Observatory to the Society of Jesus to ensure high research standards. He founded a journal in Italian called Rivista di fisica, matematica e scienze naturali." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (836275) Pietromaffi = 2012 HS
Discovery: 2012-11-24 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
"Giuseppe Lais (1845–1921) was an Oratorian priest and Italian astronomer who was key in establishing the Vatican Observatory. He served as Deputy Director of the Vatican Observatory for 30 years and was involved in the observations and reduction of the glass plates involved in the Carte du Ciel star atlas project." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (836955) Lais = 2012 WZ
Discovery: 2016-12-23 / COIAS / Maunakea / T09
"Motoyama is a region in Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The area was one of the post stations on the Nakasendo, a highway established in the Edo period, and is considered one of the birthplaces of sobakiri, a noodle dish using buckwheat." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 13]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (849224) Motoyama = 2005 TQ
(858334) Gioacchinopecci = 2012 VT
Discovery: 2012-11-14 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290
"Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci (Pope Leo XIII, 1810–1903) had a great interest in the sciences and was responsible for the re-establishment and reform of the Vatican Observatory in 1891 within the walls of the Vatican. He also encouraged the Observatory to get involved in the Carte du Ciel project." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 14]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (858334) Gioacchinopecci = 2012 VT
Discovery: 2017-01-02 / COIAS / Maunakea / T09
"Leilani is a Hawaiian name meaning “heavenly necklace of flowers” or “royal child of heaven.” It is also the name of a community in the Puna district of the Island of Hawaiʻi that suffered extensive destruction during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. This naming honors the resilience of the residents displaced by the natural disaster." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #6, 14]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (870437) Leilani = 2017 AS
The raw data for this web page is from the IAU: WG Small Bodies Nomenclature WGSBN (WG Small Bodies Nomenclature) webpage coding and formatting of this was done with the aid of Chatgpt under the guidance and supervision of the webmaster.