International Group Names Two Asteroids After Uzbek Astronomers
The international Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature has officially named two asteroids after Uzbek scientists Kamoliddin Ergashev and Otabek Burkhonov.
The Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan confirmed the global registry will now recognise the celestial bodies as (131358) Kamolergashev and (121339) Otabekburkhonov. The decision was published in the latest WGSBN bulletin. Czech astronomers originally discovered both objects at the Ondřejov Observatory long before these permanent designations were assigned.
Researchers first spotted Kamolergashev in May 2001 under the technical index 2001 KA2. The second asteroid was identified in October 1999 as 1999 TO15. Their newly approved titles will now feature in all official observational records and astronomical catalogues.
Ergashev serves as a senior researcher at the Astronomical Institute. He has dedicated his career to studying minor planets since 2007 and recently defended a thesis on the subject. His primary research analyses the shifting brightness of asteroids to determine physical properties that remain invisible from Earth. He also investigates binary systems and asteroids travelling in paired formations.
Meanwhile, Burkhonov has worked at the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute since 2000 where he currently directs a laboratory. Beyond asteroid tracking, his specialisation includes observing variable stars, quasars and optical afterglows from gamma-ray bursts. He frequently conducts this research at the Maidanak Observatory, leveraging its ideal atmospheric conditions to gather deep space data.
Both men previously received a Group Achievement Award from NASA for their contributions to planetary defence. Their collaborative efforts helped international space agencies better calculate the physical properties and movement of near-Earth objects.
