Just come through from a fellow member (Peter Marples) of the Southern Astronomical Society:
Members and friends of the SAS,
Thanks to the efforts of our member in Japan Mr Ikufumi Makino, the memory and achievements of our dear friend Erwin Rene Van der velden will now be etched in the heavens forever . This week minor planet MPL 14664 has been named Vandervelden in his honour.
Not long after Erwin passed away Renato and I were asked by Ikufumi if we would put together a citation that could be presented for consideration of naming a minor planet . A close friend of Ikufumi's and a prolific minor planet discoverer Mr Urata would consider presenting minor planet 1999 BY25 to be named in honour of Erwin. A process was then undertaken that involves a committee from the International Astronomical Union see http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/info/HowNamed.html
It is now official and you can see details of this 17th magnitude Near Earth Object at http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/db_shm?sstr=14664
The link will no doubt be placed on our webpage, so at anytime you can see where 14664 Vandervelden is.
The official citation is still to be released and will be made available as soon as possible.
14664 Vandervelden is a 17.6 magnitude object now in Lupus at a distance from the Earth of about 360million kilometres and currently shares its position in the sky not far from Jupiter, this I am sure would have been something Erwin would have been particularly proud of.
Those who are suitably equipped I throw out the challenge to image 14664 Vandervelden, and/or make a movie if its movement and send the same to me for presentation in Event Horizon and to his family who will be here in July. I have several images I have taken and will present these in the next Event Horizon.
Many of us still miss Erwin terribly, please join us in congratulating Erwin's family, knowing that Erwin's life and achievements were very significant and are now recognised in 14664 Vandervelden.
Thanks
Peter
...perhaps a fitting challenge for some of the imagers around here too!