© Валерий Доронин
TOMSK, Aug 31 – RIA Tomsk. International Astronomical Union
(IAU) named a small planet Tomskuniver in honor of Tomsk State University
(TSU); the 140 anniversary of the university is recognized in the IAU as a
worthy reason for assignment of the name to a celestial body, the corresponding
application was supported by its discoverer – amateur astronomer from Kazan,
the press service of TSU reported on Friday.
According to the press service, the name Tomskuniver in honor of TSU was
awarded to a small planet from the main belt of asteroids. The certificate
confirming the name of the celestial body was handed to the management on
Friday on the solemn academic council in honor of the 140 anniversary of the
university.
"Small but reliable asteroid of the main belt with well certain
orbit got the name of TSU (its diameter is about 2 kilometers). The name of
asteroids is not widespread phenomenon, there has to be very good reason that
the International Astronomical Union appropriated a name to a small
planet", – the author of the idea of assignment of TSU name to the
asteroid, professor Tatyana Bordovitsyna is quoted in the message.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
It is noted that the small planet Tomskuniver was officially discovered
on February 6, 2010 by the amateur astronomer Timur Kryachko at the
Zelenchukskaya station of Kazan State University. According to the IAU rules,
he as the discoverer could submit the application for assignment of a name to
Committee of the union on the name of small planets.
"Graduates of TSU on the advice of the staff of Institute of
Applied Astronomy of RAS addressed Timur Kryachko, and he agreed that
Tomskuniver is a worthy name for the asteroid found by him. Members of the
committee on names of the IAU agreed with it , each of them voted
"for" absolutely independently", – it is said in the statement.
It is added that the IAC officially proclaimed in the certificate on
assignment of the name Tomskuniver to the asteroid: "Tomsk State
University is the recognized center of science and education. It was founded on
May 28, 1878 by the decree of the Russian emperor Alexander II and became the
first university in the Asian part of Russia".