Public votes on final names for Earth's quasi-moon asteroid

iflscience.com

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is set to name the quasi-moon (164207) 2004 GU9, an asteroid that will orbit Earth until around 2600. The public can vote on one of seven names selected by a panel of judges. The finalists include names from various mythologies, such as Bakunawa, a dragon from Philippine folklore, and Tecciztecatl, an Aztec lunar god. The IAU has specific rules for naming celestial objects, excluding generic or personal names. Voting is open until January 1, allowing the public to choose the official name for this asteroid.


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