Seo mi, ma tha sibh gam aithnicheadh, neo fiù’s mura h-eil,
a’ coimhead oirrbh bho oir an rìan-grèine,
mar gum b’e aonaran a bh’unnam
a’ fuireach a-muigh ràthad na mòintich
le prosbaig aig gach uinneag…

—Pàdraig MacAoidh, “Pluto”

Today, 18 February, is Pluto Day!

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/pluto/

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Gaidhlig #Gaelic #Pluto #PlutoDay #planet #minorplanet #solarsystem #astronomy

I now have a fair-sized space rock orbiting around the Sun named after me: Minor planet (578249) Josephcarr. NRC astronomer Dave Balam, discoverer of many Minor Planets found within our solar system honoured me with this naming. Published a few days ago on behalf of the International Astronomical Union. Thanks to Dave and @pjedicke #astronomy #minorplanet

More details - https://victoria.rasc.ca/alex-schmid-and-joe-carr-honoured/

My Grade 6 teacher Mr. Riley would be pleased…he’s the one who sparked my interest in astronomy back in 1963-64. It’s an honour to have my name on a minor planet, and be part of the scientific record for as long as the human race survives. Once the human race vanishes, “my” minor planet will still be there, nameless but continuing to orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. For me personally, this naming brings the vast time scale of the universe into focus.

10199 Chariklo - the largest confirmed centaur orbiting the Sun between Saturn and Uranus - has two rings.

#science #sciencefacts #chariklo #centaur #minorplanet #ringsystem #rings