Ballet dancers and choreographers Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev have gotten asteroids named after them. The announcement appeared in the April 9, 2024 bulletin of the IAU’s Working Group on Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). Both asteroids orbit within the main asteroid belt; 20011 Baryshnikov having a slight inclination of 2.79°, whereas 20013 Nureyev has a fairly steep inclination of 13.19°.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
(20011) Baryshnikov = 1991 PD13
Discovery: 1991-08-05 / H. E. Holt / Palomar / 675
Mikhail Baryshnikov (b. 1948) is a Russian-born American ballet dancer, choreographer, and actor. Baryshnikov is one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century. His acrobatic prowess and iconic choreography—combined with his acting roles on- and off Broadway, TV, and in movies—thrust ballet into popular culture.
Orbit of asteroid 20011 Baryshnikov
Rudolf Nureyev
(20013) Nureyev = 1991 RT26
Discovery: 1991-09-11 / H. E. Holt / Palomar / 675
Rudolf Nureyev (1938–1993) was a Russian-born ballet dancer, director, and choreographer. In 1961 he became the first Soviet artist to defect to the West, where he was considered by many the greatest male ballet dancer since Vaslav Nijinsky. His influence on ballet has been compared to that made on opera by the renowned Maria Callas.
Orbit of asteroid 20013 Nureyev
About the Asteroid Discoverer
Henry E. Holt (27 September 1929 – 5 May 2019, pictured on the right) was an American astronomer and prolific discoverer of minor planets and comets, who has worked as a planetary geologist at the United States Geological Survey and Northern Arizona University.
His discoveries include the main-belt asteroid 6312 Robheinlein, which he named after famous science fiction author, Robert Heinlein. – Wikipedia
Source: https://www.wgsbn-iau.org/files/Bulletins/V004/WGSBNBull_V004_005.pdf
Cover Image: An artist’s view of a random asteroid. Credit: Bob Trembley / SpaceEngine
