As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conventions. The list below concerns those minor planets in the specified number-range that have received names, and explains the meanings of those names.
Official naming citations of newly named small Solar System bodies are approved and published in a bulletin by IAU's Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN).[1] Before May 2021, citations were published in MPC's Minor Planet Circulars for many decades.[2] Recent citations can also be found on the JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB).[3] Until his death in 2016, German astronomer Lutz D. Schmadel compiled these citations into the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (DMP) and regularly updated the collection.[4][5]
Based on Paul Herget's The Names of the Minor Planets,[6] Schmadel also researched the unclear origin of numerous asteroids, most of which had been named prior to World War II. 
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: SBDB New namings may only be added to this list below after official publication as the preannouncement of names is condemned.[7] The WGSBN publishes a comprehensive guideline for the naming rules of non-cometary small Solar System bodies.[8]
37001–37100
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37019 Jordansteckloff | 2000 TA61 | Jordan Steckloff (born 1985) is a research scientist at the Planetary Science Institute who conducts modeling investigations into the physical processes at work on a variety of solar system bodies. | IAU · 37019 |
| 37022 Robertovittori | 2000 UT1 | Roberto Vittori (born 1964), Italian astronaut | MPC · 37022 |
| 37044 Papymarcel | 2000 UE29 | Marcel Alphonse Merlin, father of French discoverer Jean-Claude Merlin. "Papy" is the French diminutive of "Father". | JPL · 37044 |
37101–37200
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37117 Narcissus | 2000 VU2 | Narcissus, from Greek mythology, a hero from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty | JPL · 37117 |
| 37141 Povolný | 2000 VZ38 | Dalibor Povolný (1924–2004), a Czech biologist and expert on butterflies and flies | MPC · 37141 |
| 37163 Huachucaclub | 2000 WD11 | The Huachuca Astronomy Club of Sierra Vista, Arizona, counts many amateur astronomers, including several discoverers of minor planets and comets as well as authors of books, articles and software (Src). | MPC · 37163 |
37201–37300
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37218 Kimyoonyoung | 2000 WE137 | Yoonyoung Kim (born 1991) is a Korean postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Göttingen, Germany), whose studies include characterization of dust properties of active asteroids and comets. | IAU · 37218 |
| 37222 Sansom | 2000 WB142 | Eleanor Sansom (b. 1990), a British/Australian planetary scientist. | IAU · 37222 |
| 37223 Devillepoix | 2000 WD142 | Hadrien Devillepoix (b. 1990), an Australian astronomer. | IAU · 37223 |
| 37250 Juliemitchell | 2000 WX183 | Julie Mitchell (b. 1984) is an American planetary scientist who served as NASA ARTEMIS mission curator during the difficult period of early cold-sample technology development, and played a central role in developing cold sample return techniques for cometary sample return missions. | IAU · 37250 |
| 37279 Hukvaldy | 2000 YK12 | Hrad Hukvaldy, a large castle in northeastern Moravia, Czech Republic (Src). | MPC · 37279 |
37301–37400
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37309 Pajuelo | 2001 OX62 | Myriam Pajuelo (born 1961) is one of the first Peruvian planetary scientists. She obtained her PhD in France on studies of binary asteroids, and returned to Peru in 2017 to promote research in Planetary Sciences at the PUC-Peru. | IAU · 37309 |
| 37313 Paolocampaner | 2001 QC | Paolo Campaner (1952–2022), an Italian amateur astronomer. | IAU · 37313 |
| 37349 Lynnaequick | 2001 SV291 | Lynnae C. Quick (born 1984) of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is an expert in volcanic processes on planetary bodies, including study of the faculae and cryovolcanism on (1) Ceres. She is member of the Dawn, Europa Clipper, and Dragonfly missions. | IAU · 37349 IAU |
| 37391 Ebre | 2001 XB | Ebre Observatory (Observatori de l'Ebre) in Roquetes-Tortosa, Spain. The observatory takes its name from a nearby river and was founded by the Jesuits in 1904. Since its establishment it has become very prestigious in geophysics. The observatory's centennial is being celebrated in 2004. | MPC · 37391 |
| 37392 Yukiniall | 2001 XP16 | Yuki and Niall, children of co-discoverer Henri Boffin | JPL · 37392 |
37401–37500
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37432 Piszkéstető | 2002 AE11 | Piszkéstető, a 944 m peak on Mátra Mountains, Hungary, site of Piszkéstető Station | JPL · 37432 |
| 37452 Spirit | 4282 P-L | Spirit rover (Mars Exploration Rover A)† | MPC · 37452 |
| 37471 Popocatépetl | 7082 P-L | Popocatépetl, the 5462-m volcano in Mexico. | JPL · 37471 |
37501–37600
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37519 Amphios | 3040 T-3 | Amphios, son of Merops of Perkote, one of the allies of Priam, killed by Ajax to get his beautiful armour during the Trojan war | JPL · 37519 |
| 37530 Dancingangel | 1977 RP7 | Ekaterina Pavlova (1991–2010), a talented and bright individual who devoted her short life to oriental dance. A two-time champion of oriental dancing in the Republic of Crimea, she also won numerous other competitions. The name "Dancingangel" reflects her spiritual qualities and professionalism. | JPL · 37530 |
| 37556 Svyaztie | 1982 QP3 | Svyaz and Tie, Russian and English words meaning "connection", honouring the astronomical collaborations and friendships between the two superpowers, and also the exchange of neckwear by the co-discoverers on their first meeting in 1970 | JPL · 37556 |
| 37561 Churgym | 1988 CR | Churgym River, a small Siberian river which forms a waterfall close to the site of the 1908 Tunguska explosion, which destroyed a large area of the Tundra forest. | JPL · 37561 |
| 37573 Enricocaruso | 1989 UB7 | Enrico Caruso (1873–1921), Italian tenor | JPL · 37573 |
| 37582 Faraday | 1990 TT3 | Michael Faraday (1791–1867), English naturalist, discoverer, amongst many things, of electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and the Faraday effect | JPL · 37582 |
| 37583 Ramonkhanna | 1990 TH8 | Ramon Khanna (born 1964), a German astrophysicist whose research includes black-hole magnetohydrodynamics | JPL · 37583 |
| 37584 Schleiden | 1990 TC9 | Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881), German botanist, co-founder (with Theodor Schwann) of the field of cytology | JPL · 37584 |
| 37588 Lynnecox | 1991 GA2 | Lynne Cox (born 1957), American long-distance swimmer | JPL · 37588 |
| 37592 Pauljackson | 1991 TG7 | Paul Jackson (born 1932), Professor emeritus at the Vienna Observatory | JPL · 37592 |
| 37596 Cotahuasi | 1991 VV6 | The Cotahuasi Canyon, near the Peruvian city of Arequipa, was formed by the Cotahuasi river. | JPL · 37596 |
37601–37700
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37601 Vicjen | 1992 GC1 | Vic Winter (born 1953) and Jen Winter (born 1969), popularizers of astronomy in rural Bolivia | JPL · 37601 |
| 37607 Regineolsen | 1992 RO7 | Regine Olsen (1822–1904), a Danish woman who was engaged to the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and who had a great influence upon his works. | JPL · 37607 |
| 37608 Löns | 1992 SY16 | Hermann Löns (1866–1914), German novelist and folk songwriter | JPL · 37608 |
| 37609 LaVelle | 1992 WS4 | Lewis LaVelle McCoy (born 1946), an American civic-minded entrepreneur from Arizona. | JPL · 37609 |
| 37623 Valmiera | 1993 RN4 | Valmiera (Wolmar), city in Northern Latvia | JPL · 37623 |
| 37627 Lucaparmitano | 1993 TD | Luca Parmitano (born 1976) is an Italian engineer and astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps for the European Space Agency. | JPL · 37627 |
| 37630 Thomasmore | 1993 TM20 | Thomas More (1478–1535), a philosopher, statesman and a noted Renaissance humanist. | JPL · 37630 |
| 37640 Luiginegrelli | 1993 WF | Luigi Negrelli (1799–1858) was an Italian engineer, known for his work on the Suez Canal. | JPL · 37640 |
| 37645 Chebarkul | 1994 CM13 | The city of Chebarkul where a large fragment the Chelyabinsk meteor penetrated the surface of Lake Chebarkul, creating an 8-meter diameter hole on 15 February 2013 | JPL · 37645 |
| 37646 Falconscott | 1994 CS13 | Robert Falcon Scott (1868–1912) was the first British explorer to reach the South Pole and explore Antarctica extensively by land. | JPL · 37646 |
| 37655 Illapa | 1994 PM | Illapa, the thunder or weather god of the Incas | JPL · 37655 |
| 37678 McClure | 1995 CR1 | Albert Edmund McClure (born 1938), Irish engineer and antique astronomical instrument restorer | JPL · 37678 |
| 37683 Gustaveeiffel | 1995 KK | Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923) was a French civil engineer and architect. He is best known for the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. | JPL · 37683 |
| 37687 Chunghikoh | 1995 QB10 | Chunghi Koh (Helen) Weber, American pharmacist and wife of American astronomer Robert Weber, who is credited with the discovery of this minor planet. | JPL · 37687 |
| 37692 Loribragg | 1995 VX | Lori Bragg, American member of the Maui Economic Development Board, provider of technical support to the AMOS team | JPL · 37692 |
| 37699 Santini-Aichl | 1996 AH1 | Jan Santini Aichel (1677–1723), a Czech architect of Italian origin | JPL · 37699 |
37701–37800
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37706 Trinchieri | 1996 RN | Ginevra Trinchieri (born 1955) has worked on galaxies, groups, clusters and their evolution, particularly on their high energy properties. She is currently the president of the Italian Astronomical Society and the Italian representative and outreach contact in the IAU. | JPL · 37706 |
| 37720 Kawanishi | 1996 SH7 | Kawanishi is situated in the southern part of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. | JPL · 37720 |
| 37729 Akiratakao | 1996 TK54 | Akira Takao (born 1952), Japanese neurological physician and amateur astronomer (nova hunter) | JPL · 37729 |
| 37734 Bonacina | 1996 UR3 | Celestino Bonacina (born 1947), an Italian amateur astronomer instrumental for the construction of the Sormano Astronomical Observatory where this minor planet was discovered. | IAU · 37734 |
| 37735 Riccardomuti | 1996 VL | Riccardo Muti (born 1941) is an Italian conductor. He holds three music directorships: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; the Philadelphia Orchestra; and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Muti has been a prolific recording artist and has received dozens of honors, titles, awards and prizes. | JPL · 37735 |
| 37736 Jandl | 1996 VU6 | Ivan Jandl (1937–1987), a Czech child actor and first Czech Oscar winner | JPL · 37736 |
| 37749 Umbertobonori | 1997 AG18 | Umberto Bonori (born 1950) is an Italian amateur astronomer, who has been at the T.L.C. Observatory since its 1991 foundation. | JPL · 37749 |
| 37782 Jacquespiccard | 1997 JP11 | Jacques Piccard (1922–2008), a Swiss marine explorer best known for his historic submarine dive to the floor of the Mariana Trench. | JPL · 37782 |
| 37785 Nougaro | 1997 SL15 | Claude Nougaro (1929–2004) was a French songwriter, singer and poet. Fond of jazz music, he wrote French lyrics and put American jazz standards and Brazilian themes into his songs. | IAU · 37785 |
| 37786 Tokikonaruko | 1997 SS17 | Tokiko Naruko, Japanese social volunteer, daughter of Issei Yamamoto, founder of the Oriental Astronomical Association | JPL · 37786 |
| 37788 Suchan | 1997 SK34 | Pavel Suchan, Czech popularizer of astronomy at the Stefanik Observatory in Prague and spokesman for the Czech Astronomical Society. | MPC · 37788 |
37801–37900
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37818 Juliamaury | 1998 BC5 | Julia Maury (born 2019) is the daughter of (29634) Sabrinaaksil and (8184) Luderic, who is the son of (3780) Maury and (4404) Enirac. | IAU · 37818 |
| 37835 Darioconsigli | 1998 BC44 | Dario Consigli (born 1992), an Italian school teacher and nephew of amateur astronomer Maura Tombelli, who discovered this minor planet. | IAU · 37835 |
| 37836 Simoneterreni | 1998 BD44 | Simone Terreni (born 1972) is an Italian amateur astronomer and a member of the astronomy club at Montelupo (Italian: Gruppo Astrofili Montelupo) who is a computer engineer and telecommunications entrepreneur by profession. | IAU · 37836 |
| 37840 Gramegna | 1998 DA3 | Maria Gramegna (1887–1915) was an Italian mathematician who studied linear differential equations. The techniques in his thesis, now lost, were highly original. She taught mathematics in Avezzano, and was one of 30000 people killed during the 1915 January 13 earthquake. | JPL · 37840 |
| 37848 Michelmeunier | 1998 DB14 | Michel Meunier (born 1964), a French airline pilot, amateur astronomer, and developer of electronic systems for astronomy, as well as a discoverer of minor planets and comets such as C/1997 J2 (Meunier–Dupouy) using a remote telescope in Chile. | IAU · 37848 |
| 37853 Danielbarbier | 1998 DB35 | Daniel Barbier (1907–1965), a French observational astronomer, made significant contributions to the study of the background of the night sky. He turned his interest to the 6300 Å forbidden line of neutral oxygen by measuring the variations of its strength with the height in the ionosphere where it is emitted. | JPL · 37853 |
| 37859 Bobkoff | 1998 FE3 | Robert Koff (born 1943), an American amateur astronomer who has produced numerous high-quality lightcurves for minor planets and eclipsing binary stars, despite shooting through the urban skies of Denver, CO, and around trees and houses from his apartment balcony. His work is a testament to perseverance, dedication and the power of CCD imaging (Src). | JPL · 37859 |
| 37865 Georgesattard | 1998 FS15 | Georges Attard (born 1957) is a French computer scientist and program manager in the aerospace industry. He has developed a number of image processing algorithms and has contributed to digital mapping and satellite imagery software. | IAU · 37865 |
37901–38000
| Named minor planet | Provisional | This minor planet was named for... | Ref · Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37939 Hašler | 1998 HA | Karel Hašler (1879–1941), Czech songwriter, actor, movie director and cabaretier | MPC · 37939 |
| 37941 Dawidowicz | 1998 HS6 | Gilles Dawidowicz (born 1971), a French geographer and co-writer on planetology text books, who has been the vice-president of the Société astronomique de France as well as the president of the Triel Observatory (French: Observatoire de Triel, Src). | IAU · 37941 |
References
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