On 2026 March 16 the IAU Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) published a list of new, officially named minor planets (asteroids).
"Kazuaki Watanabe (b. 1958) runs Showa Kikai, a Japanese manufacturer of astronomical telescopes. Many of its telescopes are widely used in public observatories, research institutions and schools. Kazuaki is also involved in the development team for the compact echelle spectrograph for Saitama University's 0.55-meter reflecting telescope." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 6]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (14495) Kazuakiwatanabe
"Susan Tresch Fienberg (b. 1956) is an American administrator who retired from a career in strategic planning and program development for non-profit organizations. She took courses in physics and astronomy at Rice University, then studied the heavens from another perspective at Harvard Divinity School." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 6]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (19311) Susantresch
"Torre del Lago Puccini is a charming small town in Tuscany, Italy. The great opera composer Giacomo Puccini lived here for many years and drew inspiration for his most renowned works from the tranquility of its picturesque lakeside setting. The town added “Puccini” to its name in 1938 to honor the composer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 6]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (24137) Torre del Lago
"Nicole Jieyi Tan (b. 1998) is a Singaporean astronomer. Her doctorate thesis examined trans-Neptunian objects in ultraviolet wavelengths. As an undergraduate, she worked on minor-planet-linking software and was the recipient of Wellesley College's Whiting Medal." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 6]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (26227) Tan
"Katherine Blundell (b. 1969) is an English astrophysicist who is Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford and the 38th Gresham Professor of Astronomy. She founded the Global Jet Watch, a multi-longitude network of telescopes for time-lapse spectroscopy. These are mainly within schools, to help encourage teenagers into science via astronomy." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 6]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (31006) Katherine
"Dayo Wong Tze Wah (b. 1960) is a Hong Kong performer who started as an actor. After an extended period of limited recognition, he developed a solo performance style that combines humor with reflective observation on society and human nature. His work has played a significant role in shaping contemporary Cantonese stand-up comedy." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (39372) Wongtzewah
"Hiroki Kobayashi (b. 1973) is a Japanese amateur astronomer who serves as the curator of astronomy at the Kitakyushu City Science Museum in Fukuoka Prefecture. He is a popular presenter of the museum's planetarium and rooftop observatory's 0.5-meter reflector telescope." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (43899) Kobayashihiroki
"Atsushi Takano (b. 1986) is a Japanese amateur astronomer and the deputy director of the Minamiaso Luna Observatory, where he provides commentary to visitors using a 0.82-m telescope and planetarium. He also served as a board member of the Japan Public Observatory Society from 2012 to 2025, and is well-known as an astronomy educator in Kumamoto Prefecture." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (43926) Takanoatsushi
"Mayumi Suzuki (b. 1967) is a Japanese pharmacist who has contributed to medical care and the welfare of people in the Nagoya area since 1990. She is a researcher at the Kawaijuku Primary Education Study Group and a member of the Japan Spaceguard Association, promoting planetary defense awareness." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (62151) Mayumisuzuki
"Translated from Japanese, “Akatsuki” describes the sunrise scene at dawn, when Venus is often visible as the morning star. The Venus orbiter named Akatsuki brought a dawn of planetary meteorology by continuously monitoring Venus’ atmospheric dynamics." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (62152) Akatsuki
"Orla Maria Parker (b. 2026) is the first granddaughter of the discoverer." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (192609) Orlaparker
"Xu Xiyuan (1976–2025) was a Taiwanese actress and television host professionally known as Barbie Hsu. She became a shared cultural reference among Chinese-speaking audiences worldwide through her television appearances in the early 2000s and represented a departure from traditional female roles in popular media." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 7]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (208663) Xuxiyuan
"Claudine Frieden (b. 1975) is a Swiss administrator who has supported the International Foundation High Altitude Research Stations Jungfraujoch and Gornergrat's administrative work for over 13 years. She supports many scientists in fields like astronomy, astrophysics, glaciology, and atmospheric, climate, and medical sciences." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (315529) Claudinefrieden
"Annie Hasten (b. 1988) is an American Mission Operations Financial lead. She supported the Insight, Lucy, OSIRIS-REx, MAVEN and Juno missions." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (333613) Hasten
"Xianshiyou, the Chinese pronunciation of the acronym for Xi'an Shiyou University, is the only multidisciplinary university in Northwest China with petroleum and petrochemical degree programs. Since its establishment in 1951, it has graduated more than 190 000 students." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (513340) Xianshiyou
"Otto Nögel (1907–1976) was a German teacher and amateur astronomer. He inspired students through practice-oriented science and developed an ingenious, low-cost telescope for observing solar prominences, opening advanced solar research to amateurs. As mentor and instrument designer, Otto bridged education, amateur astronomy, and professional science." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (617080) Nögel
"Richard Holman (b. 1946) is an ex-colleague of the discoverer. He is an English organic chemist and a specialist in surface-coating systems. His career spans ink formulation, research management and consultancy. An interest in education led to school governorships, advising on tertiary-college education and external examining for higher university degrees." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (667713) Richardholman
"Cătălin Fus (b. 1978) is a Romanian amateur astronomer, engineer and telescope designer, and the founder of a manufacturer of high-end astronomical telescopes. His mechanical designs and in-house-developed optical systems are used for astrophotography, on eclipse expeditions, and for educational and science projects." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 8]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (727736) Fus
"Mārīte Eglīte (1951–2016) was a Latvian astronomer and physics teacher who contributed significantly to astronomy education through her guidance of students’ scientific research. She was the wife of second asteroid discoverer I. Eglītis." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (733173) Mārīteeglīte
"The Burke-Gaffney Observatory (BGO) is an observatory located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Operated by the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary's University, it was opened in 1972. It provides free public control to the 24-inch robotic telescope via the internet. Supernova SN 1995F and several M31 novae were discovered at the BGO." [Ref: WGSBN Bull. 6, #4, 9]
The Minor Planet Center -- Orbits/Observations Database: (875150) Burkegaffneyobs
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.