MPC_20151225

2015 DEC. 25 M.P.C. 97569
(52242) Michelemaoret = 1981 EX
Discovered 1981 Mar. 3 by H. Debehogne and G. De Sanctis at the European
Southern Observatory.
Michele Maoret (b. 1971) is a mathematics teacher and president of the association
of scientific education ’Luigi Lagrange’, which is involved in the teaching of
physics, mathematics and astronomy.
(52246) Donaldjohanson = 1981 EQ 5
Discovered 1981 Mar. 2 by S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.
American paleoanthropologist Donald Carl Johanson (b. 1943) discovered the
fossil of a female hominin australopithecine known as ‘Lucy’.
(85400) Shiratakachu = 1996 TD 10
Discovered 1996 Oct. 8 by T. Okuni at Nanyo.
Shirataka Chugakko is the name of a middle school in Yamagata Prefecture
Shirataka town Japan. It was founded in April 2015.
(90503) Japhethboyce = 2004 EP 10
Discovered 2004 Mar. 15 by the Catalina Sky Survey.
Japheth Boyce (b. 1956), a paleontologist in South Dakota, is best known for
his exquisite fossil preparation seen in museums around the world. He specializes in
White River Badlands as well as Hell Creek material. He also appeared in the TV
program “Walking with Prehistoric Beasts”.
(90526) Paullorenz = 2004 FQ 11
Discovered 2004 Mar. 16 by the Catalina Sky Survey.
Paul Gregory Lorenz (b. 1952) is a professional pianist and has been an avid amateur
astronomer, deep sky observer and astrophotographer since the 1960s. Originally
a member with the Chicago Astronomical Society, he relocated to Tucson,
Arizona in 1980, where he is now a member of the Tucson Amateur Astronomical
Association.
(137066) Gellért-hegy = 1998 WR 8
Discovered 1998 Nov. 23 by K. Sárneczky and L. Kiss at Piszkéstető.
Gellért-hegy is a 235-meter high hill on the shore of the Danube in Budapest.
The Urania observatory existed for a short period on top of the hill. The inauguration
ceremony took place in 1815, however the building was destroyed in the Battle of
Buda during the 1848–49 Hungarian revolution. Name suggested by A. Mizser.
(239046) Judysyd = 2006 DQ 212
Discovered 2006 Feb. 25 by S. Levine and A. Henden at Flagstaff USNO.
Judith J. (b. 1937) and Sydney P. (b. 1933) Levine, orthopedic surgeon and
maritime economic consultant respectively, supported and nurtured the creative and
scientific aspirations of their children, one of whom discovered this asteroid.
(243637) Frosinone = 1999 TZ 10
Discovered 1999 Oct. 8 by G. Masi at Ceccano.
Named Frusna in ancient Volscan and Frusino by the Romans, Frosinone is
a provincial administrative seat and the discoverer’s birthplace. Traces of human
presence in the area date back to the lower Palaeolithic. During the Second Punic
Wars, Frusino was devasted by Hannibal, after refusing to surrender.
(321453) Alexmarieann = 2009 RM 2
Discovered 2009 Sept. 10 by M. Busch and R. Kresken at ESA OGS.
Named after the grandson Aleksandr (b. 1987) and two granddaughters Mariia
(b. 1987) and Anna (b. 1985) of astronomer Klim Churyumov, co-discoverer of comet
67P, the main target of the Rosetta spacecraft.
(379173) Gamaovalia = 2009 RA 2
Discovered 2009 Sept. 10 by M. Busch and R. Kresken at ESA OGS.
Named after the three sisters Galina (b. 1935), Mariya (b. 1940), Oktyabrina
(b. 1938) and two brothers Vassiliy (b. 1944) and Lev (b. 1947) of astronomer Klim
Churyumov, co-discoverer of comet 67P, the main target of the Rosetta spacecraft.