Two Asteroids Named After Leicester Scientists, a Rare Recognition in Astronomy
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- International Astronomical Union menamai dua asteroid di sabuk utama dengan nama Dr Beatriz Sánchez-Cano dan Dr Daniel Sheward dari Universitas Leicester.
- Penghargaan ini dianggap sebagai salah satu bentuk pengakuan paling bergengsi karena nama ilmuwan akan terikat permanen dengan Tata Surya.
- Keberhasilan Leicester menambah daftar kontribusi Inggris dalam riset antariksa, sekaligus memicu diskusi tentang posisi Indonesia dalam pemetaan benda langit.
Two asteroids orbiting in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter have officially been given the names of two planetary scientists from the University of Leicester, Dr Beatriz Sánchez-Cano and Dr Daniel Sheward. The naming by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) was announced as a tribute to their dedication to space research, particularly space weather and the impact of meteoroids on the Moon.
Asteroid 20685 Sánchez-Cano and Asteroid 20713 Sheward are not merely labels. Both lie in a region that is a target for future exploration missions because they preserve traces of the Solar System's ancient material. The first asteroid is about 4.7 kilometers in diameter and takes more than four years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Asteroid Sheward, meanwhile, is far larger, with a width of 20.7 kilometers and an orbital period of five and a half years.
For the astronomy community, naming an asteroid is a form of scientific legitimacy that is not granted lightly. Prof Leigh Fletcher, Director of Research at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester, called it one of the most prestigious recognitions. "That name will be forever tied to the Solar System," he said, stressing that the asteroids are now enduring monuments to both scientists.
Sánchez-Cano's research focuses on planetary ionospheres, solar wind interactions, and heliophysics. She also studies comet-planet interactions and space weather on small bodies throughout the Solar System. Sheward, meanwhile, analyzes hypervelocity impacts on the lunar surface to map the Earth-Moon meteoroid environment and its impact rate. Their contributions strengthen understanding of how the Sun and other celestial bodies influence one another.
"We are thrilled that Beatriz and Daniel have received this extraordinary honor. This is a very rare recognition, which shows the international impact of Leicester's space research." — Prof Leigh Fletcher
The award also reaffirms the UK's position as one of the leading centers for planetary research. Leicester had previously recorded two of its scientists, Dr Chrysa Avdellidou and Prof Suzie Imber, who received asteroids in 2021. For Indonesia, this achievement can serve as a mirror of how important long-term investment in basic science and the mapping of celestial bodies is. The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), now merged into BRIN, has an asteroid observation program, but its involvement in international naming remains minimal.
Globally, asteroid naming by the IAU is not just symbolic. Asteroid orbit data and physical characteristics serve as references in planetary defense missions, such as those developed by NASA and ESA. The asteroids named Sánchez-Cano and Sheward could become future research targets, especially given their relatively large size and position in the main belt. Understanding their composition and dynamics will help scientists predict the trajectories of potentially hazardous celestial bodies.
Going forward, more non-Western scientists are expected to enter the IAU naming list. Can Indonesia produce a researcher whose name is immortalized in the Solar System? The answer depends on a research ecosystem that gives room for long-term exploration, not just short-term projects.
