Asteroid (215016) Catherinegriffin

dmcdona

Back in October last year, Dave Grennan discovered asteroid 2008US3. In May of this year, its orbit was refined enough that the Minor Planet Centre gave the asteroid a formal number. So 2008US3 became 215016. At that point, Dave, as the discoverer, was entitled to propose a name for the Asteroid and he duly sent in a citation to the IAU MPC.

Its been a few months in coming but Friday of this week, Asteroid 215016 was officially named Catherinegriffin after Dave's Mum.

(215016) Catherinegriffin is only the second asteroid to have been discovered and named from Ireland - 160 years after 9 Metis. I'm delighted for Dave and especially the touching tribute to his Mum.

All that hard work paid off Dave and I'm thrilled that your citation was accepted. Your Mum would be so proud of you. And so is the Astronomy community in Ireland.

Dave



(215016) Catherinegriffin = 2008 US3
Catherine Grennan (née Griffin, 1939-2004) was the mother of the
discoverer. She encouraged his interest in amateur astronomy, and this led to
the discovery of this minor planet.

liza22

go uncle dave!