The portal Olhar Digital recently reported the discovery of a small moon orbiting an asteroid that was named in honor of Ayrton Senna. This three-time Formula 1 world champion is not the only Brazilian to receive such an honor, as a renowned composer and a young astronomer also have their names registered on celestial bodies.
The official naming process for an asteroid is strictly regulated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Minor Planet Center (MPC), which is the body responsible for cataloging and monitoring the smaller bodies of the Solar System.
The naming begins with the confirmation of the discovery, at which point the object receives a provisional alphanumeric code indicating the year and the fortnight of its location. To standardize this record, the IAU divides the year into 24 fortnights, assigning a letter from A to Y to each fifteen-day period.
Before obtaining a definitive name, the celestial body must have its orbit calculated with mathematical precision, which requires years of continuous observations at various points of its solar trajectory. Only after the complete consolidation of the orbit and the assignment of a fixed sequential number does the discoverer acquire the right to propose an official denomination.
Proposals must follow IAU guidelines, requiring that the names be pronounceable, between four and sixteen characters long, not offensive, and not too similar to other astronomical objects. There is a one-hundred-year rule after death for tributes to political or military figures, and commercial names are prohibited.
There is no fixed deadline for officialization, as it depends on the necessary observations to define the orbit. Historically, the IAU stipulated a period of about ten years for the discoverer to submit their suggestion after the asteroid's numbering. After evaluation by the nomenclature group, the proposal is officially published.
Brazilian personalities honored on asteroids
Ten Brazilian personalities were selected whose names have been immortalized on asteroids scattered throughout the Solar System.
One example is the asteroid sighted on October 11, 1985, by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Mountain Observatory in the United States. Initially identified as 1985 TP3, it was named (6543) Senna in 1995. This tribute was an initiative of the South Australian Astronomical Society in conjunction with the Ayrton Senna Fan Club, being symbolic since the 1993 Australian Grand Prix, held in Adelaide, marked the driver's last victory before his death in an accident in Italy in 1994.
Heitor Villa-Lobos, considered the greatest composer of the Americas in the 20th century, revolutionized classical music by incorporating elements of Brazilian folklore, choro, and modernism into traditional erudite forms. His compositions, such as Bachianas Brasileiras and Choros, promoted national culture on the global artistic stage, consolidating him as an essential figure in universal art.
The asteroid dedicated to the maestro was discovered on August 5, 1991, by astronomer Eric Walter Elst at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in La Silla, Chile. Initially registered as 1991 PQ1, the celestial body received the official name 7244 Villa-Lobos from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in recognition of the composer's legacy.
Nicole Semião, known worldwide as Nicolinha, the 'youngest amateur astronomer in the world,' is from Alagoas. At age 13, she gained notoriety by participating in NASA's citizen science program, the International Astronomical Research Collaboration (IASC), where she had already identified dozens of asteroids. She serves as a junior ambassador for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), in addition to being a speaker and project originator, serving as an example in encouraging children's science.
The tribute to Nicolinha came from astronomer Robert Holmes Jr. of the Astronomical Research Institute (ARI) in the United States, who located the celestial body on September 26, 2006, and suggested the official designation 292352 Nicolinha, in recognition of the young woman's work in scientific outreach.
Daniela Lazzaro, a senior researcher at the National Observatory, is one of the country's leading experts in the physical and dynamic study of smaller bodies in the Solar System. Her career includes leading pioneering projects in the spectroscopic mapping of asteroids and playing a crucial role in consolidating planetary science and observational astronomy in Brazil.
The celestial body bearing her name was discovered on February 28, 1981, by astronomer Schelte J. Bus at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Initially cataloged as 1981 DQ2, the object was named 3602 Lazzaro by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in tribute to her important contributions to the study of asteroid composition and evolution.
Luiz Eduardo da Silva Machado, a pioneer of modern astronomy in Brazil, served as a professor and director of the Valongo Observatory at UFRJ. He dedicated decades to teaching, training new scientists, and precisely calculating the trajectories of comets and asteroids, being fundamental in elevating Brazilian astrometry to an international level. The astronomer passed away in 1992, at the age of 64.
Discovered on June 1, 1980, by astronomer Henri Debehogne at the La Silla Observatory in Chile, the asteroid initially received the code 1980 MG. The official tribute occurred with the assignment of the designation 2543 Machado, perpetuating the trajectory of the Brazilian professor and astrometrist in the global astronomical catalog.
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Silvia Giuliatti Winter, a full professor at the Unesp Campus in Guaratinguetá, is internationally recognized for her studies on the dynamics of planetary rings, natural satellites, and small bodies in the Solar System. In addition to her academic research, she actively engages in training scientists and promoting female participation in exact sciences.
The asteroid was detected on March 2, 1981, by astronomer Schelte J. Bus during the UK Schmidt-Caltech Asteroid Survey at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Originally registered as 1981 EO24, the body received the official name 10696 Giuliattiwinter in recognition of her contributions to celestial mechanics.
Othon Cabo Winter, a professor and senior researcher at Unesp in Guaratinguetá, is one of the main scientific references in celestial mechanics and astrodynamics in Brazil. His research covers planetary formation, the stability of triple asteroid orbits, and the study of regions such as the Kuiper Belt and Trojan asteroids.
Like his colleague at the same institution, this asteroid was discovered on March 2, 1981, by Schelte J. Bus at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. The celestial body was initially coded as 1981 EO40 until the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formalized the designation 10697 Othonwinter to celebrate his contribution to the study of spatial orbital dynamics.
Silvana Copceski Stoinski, who holds degrees in Mathematics and specializes in Physics and Teaching, has been dedicated to popularizing science and civic education since 2011. As the national coordinator of the MCTI's Asteroid Hunting Program, carried out in collaboration with NASA, she promotes the engagement of students and teachers in analyzing real astronomical images for the discovery of celestial bodies, in addition to leading initiatives such as Mission X in Brazil.
The asteroid bearing her name was found on July 7, 2007, by amateur astronomer Robert Holmes at the Charleston Observatory in the United States. Initially cataloged as 2012 TZ235, the object was officially named 550832 Silvanacopceski by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2023, in recognition of her dedication to teaching and civic science.
Salvador Nogueira, a reference in scientific journalism and coverage of space exploration in Brazil, is the author of several books on astronomy and astrobiology, and also a columnist for major newspapers. His work facilitates the understanding of complex topics in planetary science, Artemis Program missions, and the search for extraterrestrial life by the general public.
The asteroid was discovered on August 20, 2008, by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey project at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico (USA). Initially listed as 2008 VZ87, the object was officially renamed 588905 Salvadornogueira by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in tribute to his trajectory in scientific communication.
Valerio Carruba, an astronomy professor at Unesp (Guaratinguetá Campus), is one of the world's leading authorities on the study of the dynamics and evolution of Solar System asteroid families. His research employs computational simulations and artificial intelligence to map the origin and dispersion of fragments resulting from ancient collisions in the Main Belt.
The celestial body was discovered on September 16, 1988, by astronomer Schelte J. Bus at the Palomar Mountain Observatory in the United States. Initially registered with the provisional code 1988 SF3, the object received the official designation 10741 Valeriocarruba from the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in recognition of his contributions to the understanding of the smaller bodies of the Solar System.
Nicolinha and Silvana Copceski participated in the Space View program, where they discussed this recognition. Silvana commented that it was a big surprise, mentioning that she started working with the Asteroid Hunting program in 2017 and never imagined receiving an honor. She was also one of the people who suggested the name Nicolinha for a main belt asteroid in 2020, when she joined the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Dr. Patrick endorsed the idea.
For the young woman passionate about stars, having her name immortalized in space represented the realization of a dream, and the surprise organized by the team made the moment even more special. Nicolinha declared that it was very unexpected, but extremely happy, especially because the entire Asteroid Hunting team had mentioned it would be a meeting about asteroids, and only then did they give her the news.
As demonstrated, reaching space is not limited to the career of an astronaut. For some, the path goes through racetracks; for others, through music, research, or scientific outreach. What unites all these individuals is that their journeys have left marks in the cosmos, naming asteroids that now travel eternally through the vast expanse of the Solar System.