2026-01-20
Asteroid spotlightAsteroid spotlight: 3 Juno — main-belt classic with a mythological name
Meet 3 Juno: why it’s famous historically, what its orbital numbers mean, and where the name comes from.
Blog
Guides, stories, and practical astronomy around names, asteroids, and planetary nomenclature.
2026-01-20
Asteroid spotlightMeet 3 Juno: why it’s famous historically, what its orbital numbers mean, and where the name comes from.
2026-01-20
Asteroid spotlightA friendly walkthrough of an example named asteroid (Julia): designation, orbit basics, and how to verify sources.
2026-01-20
Planetary namingA practical guide to official planetary nomenclature (craters, mountains, valleys) and how to search it safely.
2026-01-20
OrbitsA quick, beginner-friendly explanation of the three orbit parameters you’ll see for named asteroids.
2026-01-20
Planetary namingClear differences between official catalogs (IAU/USGS, MPC, NASA/JPL) and commercial ‘star naming’ services.
2026-01-20
Names & mythologyFrom Juno to Ceres: how mythology shaped early naming and why modern naming themes still matter.
2026-01-20
OrbitsWhat a ‘close approach’ really means, how to interpret AU, and why lunar distance is a useful shortcut.
2026-01-20
Getting startedTwo different ‘name spaces’: surface features (craters, mountains) vs minor planets (asteroids). Here’s how to read results.