The asteroid has been officially named as (215884) Jayantimurthy. The honor was announced by the IAU's Small Body Nomenclature Working Group, the authority responsible for naming small objects in the Solar System.
Asteroid (215884) Jayantamurthy
Asteroid (215884) Jayantimurthy was discovered in 2005 by MW Bui at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, United States. It orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter every 3.3 years. The naming of the asteroid recognizes Professor Murthy's invaluable contributions to the New Horizons mission, which included studying ultraviolet background radiation far into the Solar System, where interference from the Sun and the interplanetary medium is minimal.
New Horizons, launched by NASA, made headlines around the world in 2015 with its historic flyby of Pluto, offering unprecedented views and data of the dwarf planet and its moons.
About Professor Murthy
Professor Murthy concluded his tenure at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in 2021, where he served as Acting Director from July 2018 to October 2019. He currently holds the post of Honorary Professor in the prestigious institute.
Professor Murthy's scholarly achievements have greatly enhanced our understanding of the universe. His work on the interstellar medium, ultraviolet astronomy, and space missions has been widely acclaimed.
One of his most notable contributions has been his involvement with NASA's New Horizons science team. This team's efforts to observe ultraviolet background radiation in the outer reaches of the Solar System, where the influence of the Sun and the interplanetary medium are minimal, have played a significant role in broadening our understanding of cosmic phenomena.
New Horizons Mission
Launched by NASA, the New Horizons mission captured global attention with its historic flyby of Pluto in 2015, yielding unprecedented insights and data about the dwarf planet and its satellites. Professor Murthy's invaluable contribution to this mission has been important in advancing our knowledge about the universe.
A Rare Honor
Annapurni Subramaniam, the current director of the IIA, called the asteroid naming "a very rare honour". Professor Murthy joins the ranks of previous IIA Directors MK Venu Bappu and JC Bhattacharya who also have asteroids named after them, further strengthening the institute's reputation for excellence in astronomical research.
(215884) The naming of Jayanti Murthy serves as a testament to the outstanding contributions of Professor Murthy and serves as an inspiration for future generations of scientists to push the boundaries of human knowledge and exploration.