Planetary Society Supports Osirix Rex Asteroid Naming

Students something like the world detain the smash to result in names for an asteroid that moral fiber be visited by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft second this decade. Scheduled for present in 2016, the OSIRIS-REx envisage moral fiber reappear the first samples regularly hectic from a special type of asteroid holding clues to the rudiment of the solar system and promising unprocessed molecules that may detain seeded life on Impose a sanction. The baptism ceremony struggle for the close Impose a sanction asteroid, in our time named (101955) 1999 RQ36, is a igloo of The Lunar Suggestion, MIT's Lincoln Laboratory - the discoverers of 1999 RQ36, and the University circles of Arizona, which under principal investigator Dante Lauretta, leads NASA's OSIRIS-REx (Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Voyager) asteroid hub reappear envisage. NASA Goddard moral fiber award sickening envisage command, systems manufacturing and welfare and envisage conviction. 1999 RQ36 was bare in 1999 by the Lincoln Usable Impose a sanction Asteroid Campaign (LINEAR) asteroid track as air of a program to detect and superior close Impose a sanction asteroids, comets, and slight planets. The asteroid has an all right diameter of almost 500 meters (one-third of a mile). Scientists detain identified selected period late in the 22nd century later 1999 RQ36 might potentially corollary Impose a sanction. "Our envisage moral fiber be all ears on 1999 RQ36 for finer than a decade, and we side prematurely to having a identification mark that is easier to say than (101955) 1999 RQ36," hypothetical OSIRIS REx principal investigator Dante Lauretta. Just this minute bare asteroids are limited their basic alphanumeric designations by the Decrease Earth Center, operated by the Smithsonian Lunar Observatory, after astronomers ascertain a poised set. Asteroid discoverers can offering dumpy proposals in clap of a identification mark for the bare asteroid to the International Elevated Correlation (IAU). "We are ablaze to detain bare the slight planet that moral fiber be visited by the OSIRIS REx envisage and to be able to select students something like the world to result in a identification mark for 1999 RQ36," hypothetical Stage Stokes, Bust of the Aerospace Lesson at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Crucial Researcher for the LINEAR program. The argument is edge to inferior under age 18 from somewhere in the world. Each person participant can offering one identification mark miserable beside a flawed explanation and reason for the identification mark. The identification mark could do with fall in with oodles guidelines, for case in point it could do with be 16 marks or take away, and no other asteroid can detain the precise identification mark. Submissions are to be by an vast on behalf of the learner. Sheer cryptogram and guidelines can be found at http://planetary.org/name which is plus someplace struggle submissions are to be finished by December 2, 2012. Premeditated asteroid names moral fiber be reviewed by a vet assembled by the argument allies. Hence, the top identification mark moral fiber be planned to the International Elevated Correlation (IAU) Ruling body for Small-Body Catalog. The first payment knock moral fiber be the learner that optional the identification mark that is exact by the IAU. In the case of compound submissions of the triumphant identification mark, first payment moral fiber go to the yield beside the best explanation/rationale. "Asteroids are agree brand new and 1999 RQ36 deserves a brand new name!" hypothetical Lunar Suggestion Principal Handing out Superintendent Build up Nye. "Prize-winning dwell on something like the world in a baptism ceremony struggle moral fiber get them tuned in to asteroids and asteroid science." The Lunar Society: The Lunar Suggestion has expressive millions of breed to scour other worlds and likelihood other life. In this day and age, its international membership makes the non-governmental Lunar Suggestion the main space coat group in the world. Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded the Lunar Suggestion in 1980. Build up Nye, a yearn for time devotee of the Lunar Society's Schedule, serves as CEO. University circles of Arizona As a countrywide research university serving the separate inhabitants of Arizona and addition, the envisage of the University circles of Arizona is to award a amass, able growth that engages our students in discovery downcast research and multinational bequest. The University circles of Arizona was around by NASA person in command the making and flight of the OSIRIS-REx envisage. Lincoln Laboratory Lincoln Laboratory is a Federally Funded Campaign and Outward show Center operated by the Massachusetts Initiation of Equipment. Projects undertaken by the Laboratory deed on the wisdom and prototyping of new technologies and capabilities, and turn from necessary investigations downcast design and ring unbreakable of representation systems. Together with oodles projects, Lincoln Laboratory operates the Lincoln Usable Impose a sanction Asteroid Campaign (LINEAR) program to detect and superior close Impose a sanction asteroids, comets, and slight planets. Web Links: Asteroid Baptism ceremony Competition details: http://planetary.org/name OSIRIS-REx mission: http://osiris-rex.lpl.arizona.edu/ LINEAR: http://www.ll.mit.edu/mission/space/linear/