Who Is Indian Astrophysicist Jayant Murthy Who Has An Asteroid Named After Him
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named asteroid as "Jayantmurthy¡±, after Indian astrophysicist Jayant Murthy. On March 18, IAU announced that asteroid 2005 EX296 has been designated as (215884) Jayantmurthy, in recognition of his work in the NASA New New Horizons Science Team to observe the ultraviolet background radiation in the universe.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named an asteroid as "Jayantmurthy¡±, after Indian astrophysicist Jayant Murthy.
On March 18, IAU announced that asteroid 2005 EX296 has been designated as (215884) Jayantmurthy, in recognition of his work in the NASA New Horizons Science Team to observe the ultraviolet background radiation in the universe.
IAU'S Working Group on Small Bodies Nomenclature is a designated body that provides official names to all asteroids, comets and other small objects in the solar system.
What is asteroid Jayantmurthy
According to a press statement issued by the IIA, 'Jayantmurthy' was first discovered by MW Buie at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, USA in 2005. It goes around the sun in an orbit that lies between that of Mars and Jupiter once every 3.3 years.
Who is Professor Jayant Murthy
Bengaluru-based Professor Murthy who retired from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in 2021, has been an honorary professor at the institute since then. He was also the acting director of the institute between July 2018 and October 2019.
BCCL
¡°I have always been interested in astronomy since I watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon. So, yes, it's a great feeling to be able to look up in the sky and spot my namesake asteroid,¡± Murthy told PTI.
Murthy said his primary research interests are the interstellar medium and dust, ultraviolet astronomy, and space missions.
Professor Murthy's work with NASA
¡°I was nominated in connection with my work for the New Horizons team, led by Alan Stern. Many of my colleagues from the team were nominated too. I am working on the cosmic ultraviolet background, including the extragalactic light from Alice, on New Horizons,¡± said Murthy.
IIA
New Horizons was launched by NASA and flew past Pluto in 2015, studying it in unprecedented detail, and has since gone far beyond.
Indian scientists who have asteroids named after them
Apart from Murthy, former directors of IIA M K Vainu Bappu and J C Bhattacharyya have also had asteroids named after them -- 2596 Vainu Bappu (1979 KN) and 8348 Bhattacharyya (1988 BX) respectively.
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