A recent example is 90377 Sedna, which officially had only the systematic name '2003 VB 12' before it was numbered (90377) and, shortly thereafter, named in September, 2004. In rare cases, a very unusual object may receive an unofficial name before it is numbered. Especially towards the end of the 20th century, with large-scale automated asteroid discovery programs such as LINEAR, the pace of discoveries has increased so much that it seems likely that the vast majority of 'run of the mill' discoveries from now on will never receive names. (For many years, Hermes was a rare exception, an unnumbered asteroid with a name.) Usually the discoverer has up to 10 years to pick a name some asteroids remain unnamed. Only after a number is assigned is the asteroid eligible to receive a name. Game Asteroids (WASD to move, Spacebar to shoot) Hour and Thirty Minute Class Extra Help on Tutorial Sessions Certified Teachers Learning Online + Onsite Family Discount Available Access to Typesy (Typing Practice) BOOK NOW For further information regarding the program, please contact us at (416)-292-3444. Before this, it was simply known as 1937 UB (its provisional designation). Only after it was recovered could its orbit be established and a number assigned. In extreme cases, such as 'lost' asteroids, there may be a considerable mismatch: for instance the high-numbered 69230 Hermes was originally discovered in 1937, but was lost until 2003. All of these have now been recovered the last 'lost' numbered asteroid was 719 Albert.įor the reasons mentioned above, the sequence of numbers only approximately matches the timeline of discovery. This rule was not necessarily followed in earlier times, and some asteroids received a number but were subsequently 'lost'. Asteroids whose orbits are not (yet) precisely known are known by their provisional designation. In modern times, an asteroid receives a sequential number only after its orbit is precisely known. The list is too long to fit on one page, see these subpages:Īfter discovery, asteroids generally receive a provisional designation (such as '1989 AC'), then a number (such as 4179), and finally (optionally) a name (such as ' Toutatis'), in that order.

Typesy asteroids