Imagine having a celestial body named after you—not a star, but an entire minor planet! That’s exactly what happened to me, John Scalzi, though it’s not this John Scalzi writing to you, but the minor planet itself! Thanks to the incredible efforts of the Cline Observatory at Guilford College, we now have a photo of Johnscalzi—the minor planet, not the author—and it’s nothing short of remarkable. But here’s where it gets fascinating: capturing this image was no small feat. The observatory team not only located the planet but also verified its movement by comparing it to an earlier image of the same sky patch. And this is the part most people miss: Johnscalzi is currently at a magnitude of 17, which is extremely dim. Spotting something that faint requires either a massive telescope, advanced time-lapse imaging techniques, or—most likely—both. So, the fact that they managed to capture it at all is kind of mind-blowing.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try spotting Johnscalzi yourself, it’s currently hanging out near the constellation Leo, right around the lion’s rear end. (Yes, you read that right—astronomy has a sense of humor too!) To find its precise location, head over to this NASA tool, click on the ‘Ephemeris’ link, and then hit ‘Generate Ephemeris.’ It’ll give you all the details you need. But fair warning: with its current magnitude, you’ll need some serious equipment to see it. And this is where it gets controversial: Is it worth the effort to chase down such a faint object, or should we leave it to the professionals?
As for me, I’m absolutely thrilled that the Cline Observatory took the time to capture this image. As I’ve mentioned before, having a minor planet named after me is a major honor, and seeing it—even just a little—is equally exhilarating. But I’m curious: What do you think about the challenges of observing such dim celestial bodies? Is it a pursuit worth celebrating, or is it a niche interest best left to the experts? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
— JS
