IAU Now Taking Name Suggestions for Exoplanets!

[Omicron314]

Well, finally the IAU is beginning to name the ridiculous number of extrasolar planets that have been discovered in the past few years. Unfortunately, they have begun taking suggestions from the general public. So, in order to prevent having planets named things such as Star Trek or Football Planet, we as a community need to suggest better names. We could do this individually or as a group, perhaps naming several hundred and sending one obnoxiously huge email to the IAU. Either way, it would be better than the alternative.

From the IAU's website:

Proposed names should be:

â— 16 characters or less in length,

â— preferably one word,

â— pronounceable (in as many languages as possible),

â— non-offensive in any language or culture,

â— not too similar to an existing name of an astronomical object.

In addition:

â— names of pet animals are discouraged,

â— names of a purely or principally commercial nature are not allowed

â— names of individuals, places or events principally known for political or military activities are unsuitable.

The full pdf can be found here: http://www.iau.org/static/public/naming/planets_and_satellites.pdf

I think we should try to take this seriously, but I also think Squad would love it if the IAU officially recognized "Kerbin" as the name of a planet somewhere in the galaxy.

So, thoughts?

Edited August 28, 2013 by Omicron314

[cypher_00]

That would be great! a real life Kerbin

To bad they dont accept offence names or I would suggest Urbunghole.

[Moon Goddess]

Can't have Kerbin

it must demonstrate that previously existing names, when proposed, are

free for public use (i.e., for instance, not subject to copyright royalties, as

could be the case for names created in fiction works, like books, plays,

movies, etc.);

[Globerunner513]