Credit: IAU/L. Calçada
For the first time in history the public will be able to vote for the official name of stars and planets.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is inviting all public organizations with an interest in astronomy to register on the IAU Directory for World Astronomy website for the NameExoWorlds contest.
Those participating can in early 2015 suggest names for exoplanets and their host stars.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation.
NOTE: The deadline for registration for the contest is December 31, 2014.
Eligible organizations include: planetariums, science centers, amateur astronomy clubs, online astronomy platforms, but also non-profit organizations such as high schools or cultural clubs interested in astronomy.
A list of 305 well-characterized exoplanets, discovered prior to December 31, 2008, has been selected for naming by the IAU Exoplanets for the Public Working Group.
For more details about the contest, go to:
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1406/
By Leonard David