Asteroids named after Gujarat's researcher, 3 other Indians

Asteroids named after Gujarat's researcher, 3 other Indians


Gujarati girl Ritu Parekh, along with three others from India, have won the honour to have an asteroid named after them. The aestroid 2000HD73 has been renamed 'Rutuparekh'.


Another scientist with Ahmedabad connection, Kumar Venkatramani, who completed his PhD from IIT-Gandhinagar and worked in the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) has also got aestroid 2000SM362 rechristened as 'Kumar' after him. 


Parekh, who completed her B.Sc from St Xavier's College in the city, worked with Cept University and later PRL  in Ahmedabad before going abroad to pursue higher studies. She currently works as a post-doctoral researcher at Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA in the US. 


On June 22, Working Group Small Bodies Nomenclature of International Astronomical Union, the international body responsible foe naming celestial objects, named 198 aestroids after scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics. There are four Indians who have been included in the list. 


In an email response, Parekh said, "Being an early career scientist, such appreciation from the scientific community boosts the morale. I am very happy and elevated. This accolade shows the scientific community supports my work and effort. As a planetary scientist, it will open the doors for many more research opportunities to enhance my knowledge, skills and expertise."


"During difficult times, such an award is a reminder of my abilities and motivation me to work even harder for better scientific results in the planetary science field," she said. "My family was on cloud nine and was very proud to hear when I shared the news." 


There citation awarded to Parekh reads: "She is a planetary geolist specialising in understanding the surface evolution of icy satellites and aestroids by analyzing various exogenic and endogenic processes through image analysis, numerical modelling, and laboratory analogues." 


Kumar Venkataramani, an expert in spectroscopic observation of comets and aestroids, is currently associated with California Institute of Technology. "His research, using ground-based and orbital telescopes, has advanced our understanding of the chemical composition and reflectance properties of small solar system bodies." 


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