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

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: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.