Armagh Observatory staff named after asteroid honour
Two staff members at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium have joined a select group of individuals who have had asteroids named after them, an honour that includes globally recognised names such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.
Two staff members at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium have joined a very select group of individuals who have had asteroids named after them, an honour that includes globally recognized names such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Mozart, Elvis, the Beatles, and Freddie Mercury.
Meteorological Officer Shane Kelly and Tours and Outreach Officer Dr. Rok Nežič are the two staff members who received this recognition. Out of approximately 25,000 officially named asteroids—which include many named after real and fictional characters—the naming process is governed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to ensure names are appropriate and follow specific guidelines.
Speaking about his asteroid, (20560) Nežič, Dr. Rok Nežič expressed feeling very privileged, noting that an asteroid is essentially a big rock floating in space and that both of their asteroids are estimated to be over 10km in size, though a very large telescope is needed to see them out in the asteroid belt.
A Slovenian national who has been a familiar face at the planetarium for over a decade, Rok started in Armagh with his PhD and has worked full-time since finishing his doctorate in 2020, turning his childhood fascination with space into the foundation of his career. His expertise and honour have even been featured in Slovenian national media and shared by the UK Embassy in Ljubljana.
Shane Kelly earned his nomination after serving as the principal meteorological observer at the Observatory for the last 27 years, a role involving weather readings and training assistant meteorological observers. It is a source of immense pride for everyone at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium that daily weather readings have been maintained every single day since July 14, 1795.
Shane’s asteroid is known as (7050) Shane Kelly. Expressing his delight, he noted that the honour reflects not only his own role and contribution, but also honours the many people who have undertaken weather readings since that first day back in July 1795.
Reflecting on the long list of people who have taken weather readings, Shane added that the past and present form a continuum where the current moment is the result of everything that came before, expressing hope that the readings continue and that this long-term climate archive continues ad infinitum.