Asteroid 52681 Kelleghan - the story so far

Asteroid 52681 Kelleghan (1998DK34) imaged by Guy Wells at Northolt Branch Observatories London UK

When I was writing this, storm Aytilah was battering the coast, bending trees and gaining momentum. Weather warnings punctuated the day, everything that could blow away was tied down. Out in space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, an asteroid with my name on it was not bothered by any earthly storm or crashing waves. 

This chunk of rock is moving along its orbit, rotating once every six hours. It is being itself among the circa 1.9 million other asteroids over 1 km in size. Out there in the main asteroid belt, it is joined by countless millions of other smaller asteroids.

Just as well that the distance between asteroids is circa 600,000 miles. Spacecraft travelling in the area therefor have plenty of wriggle room. 

This asteroid with my name appended is 7 .507 km in diameter !! Imagine that !! it is really mindboggling.   

The story began back in March 2019. I got a phone call from John McConnell, a well-respected astronomer in Northern Ireland. He asked me if I was sitting down, 'yes I said'. John proceeded to tell me that an asteroid in space now had my name on it. He was ringing to congratulate me and to assure me that he would do his best to find out more about it on my behalf. I was absolutely flabbergasted, totally delighted of course but was truly overwhelmed by the honour.

Not long after that, he sent me the link to the JPL NASA page with its ID number and some technical details. Its title is 52681 Kelleghan (1998 DK 34) Click here to see.
During the year I have mentioned this honour to children during some of my workshops. They want to know, what colour is it,? what is it made of? The most asked question is,  'will you ever go there?'  :-)  Slowly the reality of this asteroid in space with my name on it started to become believable. 

In November I attended the Mayo Dark Skies Festival to catch up with friends and listen to some great speakers. After lunch, I was taken by surprise by another very knowledgeable astronomer. Terry Moseley began to make an announcement that I soon realised was about 52681. He proceeded to present me with a certificate in honour of the asteroid naming and my outreach work via art. The presentation made this distant object become something  which was indeed more tangible.There was a warm reaction from people attending the event and later from friends online. 

John McConnell had made a great effort to put my name forward to the person who discovered the asteroid. Many people had in past years supported my efforts. Many organisations and individuals had gone out of their way to assist me in my journey. Sometimes when you are in the thick of work you don't fully realise arresting moments like these immediately.

Recently more reality was to join my head and this minor planet. John had made a call out to an astronomer in the UK. Guy Wells actually took an image of 52681 and sent it to me. He carries out his observations at the Northolt Branch Observatories in London. This observatory is mainly involved with searching for NEO's (near-Earth Objects) 
There it is a grey dot in the image above. Guy told me that it's a stacked image using astrometry software. The image is presented in a negative format so the asteroid is more easily seen amongst the background stars. 

I have added 52681 Kelleghan (1998 DK 34) to Stellarium so I know where it is. However, with its magnitude being so dim it is not likely that my eye and it will line up. Guy  informed me that during January 2020 this asteroid will be at its brightest for at least another decade.  It will sport a dark + 18 cloak, so images will be the only way to see it in reality. Sometimes I look up at the area of sky and wonder how I can introduce it to my work in a creative way. Perhaps the new year will bring clarity. 

Am very grateful to the International Astronomical Union, John McConnell, Eric Elst (who first discovered the Asteroid in 1998) Terry Moseley, Guy Wells, and the JPL Minor Planet Centre. My thanks to all involved, I suspect who they are. :-)