Asteroid (20560) Nežič, measuring 10.9 kilometers across, commemorates Dr. Rok Nežič, who earned his space and climate physics doctorate at the facility. Meanwhile, the 15.6-kilometer-wide asteroid (7050) Shanekelly honors Shane Kelly for manually recording weather observations at the site since 1999. In celebration of these milestones, the planetarium intends to display both newly dedicated asteroids and their orbital trajectories inside its new LED dome.
Key points
The International Astronomical Union only approves asteroid names after a celestial objec…: The International Astronomical Union only approves asteroid names after a celestial object's orbit is sufficiently established.
These two new designations increase the total number of asteroids linked to the Armagh in…: These two new designations increase the total number of asteroids linked to the Armagh institution to 29.
Visitors will soon be able to view both honorees' asteroids and orbital paths on the plan…: Visitors will soon be able to view both honorees' asteroids and orbital paths on the planetarium's LED dome.
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As a child growing up in Slovenia in 1999, Dr Rok Nežič couldn't have known that an asteroid that was discovered in New Mexico that year would be named after him almost three decades later.
The Orchard County may be best known for its apples, but for Nežič the real attraction was astronomy.
He first arrived to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) in 2015 to complete his doctorate in space and climate physics, and has remained there ever since.
More than a decade on, he is one of two AOP employees to have recently been chosen to have a celestial body named after them.
Nežič, who works at the planetarium as a tours and outreach officer, said he thought it was "so cool" when he learned that asteroids can be named after people.
Speaking to BBC News NI, Nežič said he wished he "could get there some day" and, now that he has, he described it as "a dream come true".
"I'm not sure how to believe it myself,” he admitted.
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