Professor Jayant Murthy honored with Asteroid name

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The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognized Indian scientist Professor Jayant Murthy by naming an asteroid after him.

An Overview of the News

Asteroid (215884) Jayantamurthy

• Originally known as 2005 EX296, this asteroid orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter every 3.3 years.

• Its new name, (215884) Jayanta Murthy, will always carry forward the rich legacy of the Indian scientist.

Career and Contribution of Jayant Murthy

• Professor Murthy served as the Acting Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and currently holds the rank of Honorary Professor.

• His scholarly achievements in the interstellar medium, ultraviolet astronomy, and space missions have greatly advanced our understanding of the universe.

Participation in NASA's New Horizons Mission

• Professor Murthy played a key role in NASA's New Horizons science team and contributed to the observation of ultraviolet background radiation in the outer reaches of the Solar System.

• The New Horizons mission's historic flyby of Pluto in 2015 provided unprecedented insights into the dwarf planet and its satellites.

Rare Honor and Legacy

• Annapurni Subramaniam, the current director of the IIA, considers the asteroid naming "a very rare honor", linking Professor Murthy with respected predecessors in astronomical research.

• (215884) The naming of Jayanti Murthy symbolizes the outstanding contributions of Professor Murthy and serves as an inspiration for future scientists.