Research by Uzbek scientists in the field of asteroid photometry, variable stars, and gamma-ray bursts has received international recognition. The working group of the International Astronomical Union on the nomenclature of small bodies has named two minor bodies—asteroids—after Uzbek scientists Kamoliddin Ergashov and Otabek Burkhonov.
This was reported by the press service of the Academy of Sciences. These celestial bodies will now be registered in international astronomical catalogs under the names (131358) Kamolergashev and (121339) Otabekburkhonov. The new names were published in the WGSBN bulletin, volume 6, issue 11.
The official explanation noted Kamoliddin Ergashov's contribution to the study of asteroids. He worked in the asteroid research group of the Institute of Astronomy starting in 2007, studying the light curves and physical characteristics of asteroids, as well as investigating asteroid pairs, clusters, and group systems. In 2024, he received a PhD in this field.
The official comment dedicated to Otabek Burkhonov recognized his scientific work, which has continued at the Institute of Astronomy since 2000. In addition to studying asteroid photometry and their light curves, the scientist conducted research on subsequent optical observations of variable stars, gravitationally lensed quasars, and gamma-ray bursts.
Both asteroids were discovered at the Andryeiev Observatory in the Czech Republic: one in 1999, and the second in 2001.
