An asteroid called Romania?  That's right. The International Astronomical Union  (IAU) recently named asteroid 7986 EG15 1981 as the somewhat catchier 'Romania'.

The name was proposed by Romanian Mirel Birlan, working at the Observatory of Paris, and American Richard Binzel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The International Astronomical Union (IAU) accepted the idea, much to Mirel Birlan's delight. "It is extraordinary that the IAU accepted the name 'Romania' for asteroid number 7986. Romania was one of the founding members of the IAU, and Romanians can now turn their eyes to the heavens and think that 'little Romania' is up there,” he said. Birlan added that he hopes the naming will encourage interest in astronomy. The asteroid 'Romania' was originally discovered in 1981 by astronomer SJ Bus during the U.K. Schmidt-Caltech Asteroid Survey.

The asteroid measures a few kilometers across, plenty big enough to cause devastation if it ever hit the Earth. However, it is not considered likely. 'Romania' is a main belt asteroid that never comes near enough to the Earth to be a danger.

Like other main belt asteroids, it orbits between Mars and Jupiter - millions of kilometers away from us. Recent research suggests that there are around 4,700 potentially hazardous asteroids (PHA), they measure at least 100 meters across and have orbits that bring them close enough to result in a collision. NASA scientists say only 20 – 30 percent of these potentially dangerous asteroids have been discovered.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com