After eight months, almost 3,000 submissions, seven finalists, and more than 10,000 votes, a winner has been unveiled in the worldwide Quasi-Moon naming contest from Radiolab and the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
“Cardea” has been declared the official name of “(164207) 2004 GU9,” one of Earth’s quasi-moons. In accordance with IAU naming conventions, the name is rooted in one of the world culture’s mythologies: “Cardea” is the Roman goddess of door hinges, thresholds and transitional spaces.
“Cardea” was submitted by Clay Chilcutt, a student at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. In his submission, Chilcutt wrote, “Cardea presides over transitions and liminal spaces. A quasi-moon occupies a unique orbital path, existing in a transitional state between a true moon and an independent asteroid. She symbolizes change, guardianship, and the passage between realms. This name reflects the quasi-moon’s unique orbital path, embodying a celestial gateway between Earth and space.”
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