The asteroids are named after mathematician Bella Chacani and actor Peter Hamann, who died in 2022, at the initiative of an astronomer from Szeged University (SZTE).
According to the latest decision, from now on, the asteroid’s number (450297) will bear the name of Bella Chakani, professor of the Bolyai Institute at SZTE, who died in March of this year, according to the university’s announcement.
One of the goals of the Local Asteroid Discovery Program is to name celestial bodies after representatives of education, literature, creative arts, fine arts, sports and other fields, as well as representatives of scientific life. Thus, at the suggestion of the astronomer SZTE, the asteroid number (612787) was named after Peter Hamann.
How are asteroids called?
First, celestial bodies captured in astronomical images for many years follow an accurate trajectory calculation, thus ensuring reliable identification. The asteroid is then assigned a serial number, and the discoverers can submit a name proposal to the relevant committee of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Name suggestions can come from different regions, but usually people and geographic places are on the list.
