George Takei Now an Asteroid

ineedbettername writes "In recent news, the International Astronomic Union has decided to rename the asteroid "1994 GT9" to 7307 Takei in honor of George Takei, the actor who played Sulu in Star Trek. He now joins the ranks of other famous sci-fi figures in space, such as 4659 Roddenberry, 68410 Nichols, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov."

Comments

Lucy in the sky with Takai, ...

[itsybitsy]

As long as we don't hear Shatner singing anymore.

Don't mix entertainment with history

[suv4x4]

I honestly can't believe how people blur the edges of reality and sci-fi series. So now people deserve special honour because they played in Star Trek? I mean, the guy was probably a great actor, but what the heck.

Reminds me of the 20-th century museum in Futurama, where they have messed up the entire history and thought The Honeymooners were the first people to step on the moon ("Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon, Alice!"), and reimaging the astronauts as movie-style space cowboys complete with cowboy hats and attractive behavior.

It's just idiocracy happening slowly before our eyes.

Re:Don't mix entertainment with history

[Seumas]

Don't mix entertainment with history . . .

So . . . to hell with Bogart. Grant. Reagan. Arnold.

First of all, these are people in the science community honoring those that inspired or intrigued them in the pursuit of science. Or just acknowledging someone whose work they greatly appreciate. Second, it's not like this is a finite resource and naming a cosmic entity after anyone diminishes the chance for others to have them named after other people.

Re:Don't mix entertainment with history

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, but ST gets a bit of a free pass on this because (despite being somewhat cheesey) it genuinely inspired a whole generation of real astronomers / NASA personnel / general space enthusiasts. We all know why the first orbiter was named Enterprise, and it wasn't the bullshit official reason of being named after the CV-6 / CVN-65 carriers.

Re:Don't mix entertainment with history

[Loke the Dog]

Well, what about all those ancient gods we have up there? They're just as distanced from reality as star trek.

And what names should we use in your opinion? I'd much prefer having objects named after celebrities than astronomers naming the rocks after their cat or whatever.

Re:Don't mix entertainment with history

[PietjeJantje]

My father was a water biologist. They, and their biology colleagues everywhere, find new species and organisms all the time. Especially the really small ones. In fact, there are so many of them, they are pretty much named after everybody, in "latineze". There are zillions of them. Two crustacean types have been named after me. He was -this- close to honoring the dog. Most remain unnamed though and just carry an id. I ask you, has this been a problem to you and did it mess up history as you suggest? Now, take the universe and pieces of rock you'll never see, or, even better, stars instead. We can safely honor every thug on earth (and their dogs) with their own stars, and still end up with relatively all of the stars not being named. In this number game, they wouldn't win even if they would make it their full time profession to give silly names to stars. In other words: it's not a problem as long as they don't rename Mars to Shatner.

Political or military names

[FlopEJoe]

...it [IAU] warns would-be namers to avoid anything "in questionable taste" and any names honoring political or military figures sooner than 100 years after their deaths.

Well that odd. I have nothing against George and I'm fan of most of the recipients listed. But it seems out of perspective to honor actors hundreds of years earlier than people who accomplish such monumental, world changing achievements. "Here's a guy who died to take out a bunker so that others can free France. Oohh, No wait, here's an actor!"

Re:Loaded headline

[skinfaxi]

I have always admired George Takei and think it's great to name an asteroid after him. Gay jokes and calling him names is pretty foul. You would think I was new here to expect any better.

Re:Loaded headline

[tverbeek]

I don't expect any better. But I will answer both the snickering adolescent homophobes and the people who have have a stick up their puckered asses over a mere "celebrity" being honored this way.

Yes, George Takei is queer. And although he felt he had to hide this fact for most of his adult life, he had the courage and integrity to come out of the closet, by choice, giving inspiration to those fans who are gay (of whatever age) to be a little more courageous in their own lives. Plus, he's done it with class and humor.

Yes, George Takei is an actor. But his dignified and non-stereotyped portrayal of a starship officer for whom being Japanese was only one of several interesting character traits, helped expose viewers to a broader picture of what Asian people were like, and to Asian kids in particular it gave another idea of what they might become. Plus his obvious contribution to Star Trek's promotion of space-related science.

So, yeah: There's no question he deserves the modest honor of having an object in space named after him. And he can handle the jokes.

Re:Loaded headline

[kisrael]

Well said.

And he does put up with the jokes with humor and grace, even when Howard Stern was getting in on it. He does sound like a bit of a "queen", and I like him all the more for it, he's likely living the life that feels that much more natural for him, and probably having a ball doing it.

And the character of Sulu was always one of the coolest ones on that bridge. Kirk was always a bit too much bluster for young people to relate to quite as well, Chekov (inspired by the Monkees) was a bit too goofy. Sulu was all professionalism and skills.

Random Trek bit... one line that they say got through the sensors was when there was that mind-altering virus thing and everyone goes nuts, bare-chested swashbuckling Sulu addresses Uhura "Fair maiden..." and she replies "sorry, neither" -- very cute.

So, good for him.

Re:Loaded headline

[danlock4]

Because Star Trek is a nerdy subject. That's why it's appropriately categorized as "news for nerds." It matters to nerds because it is a nerdy subject. If nerdy subjects did not matter to nerds they either wouldn't be nerdy subjects or the "nerds" wouldn't be nerds.

[Of course, not all nerds are interested in Star Trek. However, since a large portion of nerds are interested in Star Trek and it is, therefore, a nerdy subject, it remains "Stuff That Matters"--even if it doesn't charge your phaser.]