Ever Wondered How Asteroids Get Their Names?

Ever Wondered How Asteroids Get Their Names?

From HMNS Beyond Bones Podcast by Houston Museum of Natural Science

September 9, 2025 · 48 min

About this episode

The episode explores how asteroids get their names through a discussion with astronomer Tracy Knauss at the HMNS George Observatory.

Have you ever noticed asteroid names and wondered how they came to be? Let's go to the HMNS George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park and talk to astronomer Tracy Knauss to learn all about it...and much more! George Observatory https://george.hmns.org/ More about our 36 inch scope https://youtu.be/hz2-GgX9omg?si=Y5-Xbp6qORNLA8Tk George VLOG https://youtu.be/e9pXhaA0q8A?si=elZTB-o9GgLIQBM1 Tracy's Asteroid https://fbac.org/2025/08/21/tracy-knauss-asteroid/ Timestamps 0:00 Intro 0:54 Tracy's Asteroid 4:09 What do the label numbers mean? 8:05 Who can find asteroids? 13:47 More about Tracy's asteroid 18:58 Has the George Observatory found asteroids? 20:34 Addressing light pollution 25:29 Venus is cool 27:28 Do you need expensive equipment for viewing/astrophotography? 35:14 Sometimes you don't need anything at all 36:57 History of 36-inch scope & George Observatory 41:23 Importance of optics 44:50 More 36-inch scope facts For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

People in this episode

Guest: Tracy Knauss

Topics covered

  • asteroids
  • naming conventions
  • astronomy
  • light pollution
  • observatories

Keywords

  • asteroid names
  • astronomy
  • George Observatory
  • light pollution
  • astrophotography

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HMNS George Observatory, Houston Museum of Natural Science

Books & works: George VLOG, Tracy's Asteroid

Places: Brazos Bend State Park

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