2309 Mr. Spock
2309 Mr. Spock is a small asteroid in the main asteroid belt, about 11 km in diameter. It was discovered in 1971 by James B. Gibson. Its name does not come directly from the character of Mr. Spock in Star Trek, but rather from the discoverer's cat. Like his namesake, the feline Mr. Spock was "imperturbable, logical, intelligent, and had pointed ears". The naming resulted in uproar, and later the International Astronomical Union decided that pet animal names are discouraged (although a number of other pets preceded this one to the skies). A number of other asteroids have since been named after Star Trek characters, as well as musicians and other pop culture figures.
External link
- Name those asteroids – "In Our Skies" sample column (February 13, 1998)
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