Asteroid Named After Pillinger

[zavvy]

<b>Asteroid Named After Pillinger</b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />The scientist behind the failed Beagle 2 landing on Mars has been honoured by the International Astronomical Union which has named an asteroid after him. <br /><br />Asteroid 15614 is named 'Pillinger' after Milton Keynes-based Open University professor Colin Pillinger. <br /><br />Nasa senior scientist Dr Everett Gibson said: "A piece of Professor Pillinger now moves between Mars and Jupiter." <br /><br />Professor Pillinger said: "It's nice to know something named after me will be existing for the next billion years." <br /><br />Contributions to planetary science <br /><br />The asteroid was named Pillinger by the International Astronomical Union in recognition of the professor's scientific discoveries and numerous contributions to planetary science. <br /><br />Dr Gibson said: "For more than three decades he has been an enthusiastic Nasa team member and a world-class research scientist." <br /><br />The asteroid is part of a belt of debris between Mars and Jupiter which may be the remains of a planet. <br /><br />Thousands of Solar System objects, such as comets and asteroids, have been named by the scientific community. <br /><br />