Dr Rok Nežič, a space scientist originally from Slovenia who grew up watching the stars, has had an asteroid discovered in 1999 named after him nearly three decades later. Nežič, who now works as a tours and outreach officer at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP), is one of two employees at the institution recently honored with a celestial body bearing their name.
A Lifelong Passion Realized
Nežič first arrived at the Northern Ireland institution in 2015 to complete his doctorate in space and climate physics and has stayed ever since. Speaking to BBC News NI, he expressed disbelief and delight at the honor, describing it as a dream come true to have a piece of space named after him.
His designated asteroid, officially named (20560) Nežič, measures 10.9km across and orbits safely within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The numerical prefix indicates the chronological order of its discovery by an Earth-based mission in New Mexico in 1999.
While the International Astronomical Union governs the naming process and allows discoverers to name small solar system bodies once orbits are established, Nežič was nominated anonymously by two individuals—later revealed to be his former PhD supervisor and a former astronomer from the observatory.
Colleague Also Honored
Alongside Nežič, principal meteorological observer Shane Kelly also received the same celestial tribute with an asteroid named (7050) Shanekelly, discovered in Chile in 1982 and measuring 15.6km across. Kelly has recorded daily weather observations in handwritten ledgers for 27 years, accumulating more recorded data lines than any of his 17 predecessors.
AOP Director Prof Michael Burton stated that it is fantastic for two staff members to receive such recognition, bringing the total number of asteroids with connections to the Armagh facility to 29. He noted that Kelly has likely observed the weather more than anyone else globally, making the honor a fitting tribute to his dedication.
To celebrate these achievements, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium plans to install a new LED dome that will visually display the newly named asteroids and their specific orbits.
