distinguish a planet used to be an honor appropriate for the astronomer who discovered it , but these solar day , we ’re discover too many to keep up . Now , the International Astronomical Union has unfold the sanctified process up to the internet , hallow their brave souls .
To engagement , there are more than 1,000 confirmed planets beyond our solar organization and 3,000 - plus unconfirmed maybe - planets . The IAU would like these planets to have names that inspire cosmic admiration and awe , rather than designations like NGC 4349 No 127 b , which might as well be a serial code on a can of Spam .
Enter theNameExoWorldscompetition , which opened on Tuesday and runs until October 31st . The website allows anyone with a figurer or smartphone to cast his or her voter turnout on a name for each of 32 different exoplanets discovered over the past 25 years . The lucky 32 let in some now - historical heavenly bodies , such as the three exoplanets orbiting PSR 1257 + 12 ( come across in 1992 ) , and the Jupiter - sized world orbiting 51 Pegasi — the very first exoplanet ever discovered around a sun - like star .
To keep things from get out of hand , or because the IAU does n’t desire an internet thatrecently turn Pluto into a wrack ball , the name have been pre - select for us . We ’ve catch a dainty potpourri of philosophers , mythic deities and science fiction references to choose from , and not a single oblique hawkshaw reference . Happy voting .
[ Popular Mechanics ]
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Top image : Artist ’s innovation of exoplanet 51 Pegasi b , the first exoplanet ever discovered in orbit around a sun - like star topology , via ESO / M. Kornmesser / Nick Risinger
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