The IAU is officially naming planets

 

The IAU has decided that it is going to officially name exoplanets in a worldwide contest.  You can find the details here:Screen Shot 2014-07-09 at 1.56.02 PMThe way this will apparently work is that non-profit groups (but not individuals) will be able to register for an opportunity to nominate names starting in September.  It is unclear from the rules if all groups will be accepted, or how the IAU will decide which groups are eligible.

The following month, these groups will “vote for the 20–30 top ExoWorlds they wish to name,” with the exact number depending on the number of groups that sign up (the IAU is anticipating thousands will).  It’s not clear to me if this means that the groups must hold a vote among their members, or if their list of 20-30 planets constitutes their “vote”.

The groups must choose from a list the IAU has compiled of the first 300 or so exoplanets discovered (including Wolszczan’s pulsar planets, “Latham’s planet,” 51 Peg b, Hd 209458 b, epsilon Eridani b, and many others, listed here).

In December, these groups will contribute names for these planets and their host stars.  The names must conform to the rules put down by Commission 53 (which I comment on here), except for one rule which is being ignored (see the next post).

In March of next year the general public will be allowed to vote on Zooniverse on these planet names, provided they register first.  The IAU anticipates a million votes or more.

In July of next year, the IAU, via its Executive Committee Working Group on the Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites will validate the winning names.

At the IAU meeting in Honolulu, the IAU will announce the winning names.

Next up: my thoughts.

 

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