The new era in astronomy has never been more exciting!
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) released its debut photos last month, showing its powerful capabilities in capturing insanely detailed photos of deep space objects. One of the observatory's cosmic targets is to explore exoplanets and gather more information about them.
However, the fun doesn't stop there because you have the chance to name one of these exoplanets that the JWST will observe in the near future.
IN SPACE - JULY 12: In this handout photo provided by NASA, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reveals Stephans Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, in a new light on July 12, 2022 in space. This enormous mosaic is Webb's largest image to date, covering about one-fifth of the Moons diameter. It contains over 150 million pixels and is constructed from almost 1,000 separate image files. The information from Webb provides new insights into how galactic interactions may have driven galaxy evolution in the early universe.
NameExoWorlds 2022: How to Join?
The International Astronomical Union (IAU), responsible for naming objects in space, is holding a competition to name the 20 exoplanetary systems that Webb will survey to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its Office for Astronomy Outreach.
As reported by Space.com, NameExoWorlds 2022 is a contest that aims to unite amateur and professional astronomers to name 20 chosen exoplanets and their host stars while also establishing connections between space research and cultures on Earth.
Entrants must organize a team that includes a mix of students, instructors, astronomy lovers, amateur astronomers, and professional astronomers in order to earn the opportunity of naming an exoplanet and its star.
After selecting a target system, teams should provide a name for the planet and host star, including a description of its cultural context. Written and video submissions of proposals will be required, and teams will be assisted by the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs).
You can register your team through this form. If you want more details, visit IAU's official website.
Read also: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Finds A New 'Brown Dwarf' 30 Times Larger Than Jupiter!
Selection Process
A two-step selection procedure will be used for the proposals. The national candidate and two backup candidates will be chosen first by a national selection panel headed by NOCs. A final selection committee will then choose a name for each ExoWorld after taking into account the candidates that were submitted by each nation.
In a statement, IAU President Debra Elmegreen remarked, "It is exciting to have a new NameExoWorlds competition underway to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Office for Astronomy Outreach."
In order to emphasize the significance of the links between the sky and Earth's various cultures, the IAU has previously conducted a number of NameExoWorlds programs.
Related Article: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Snaps the Enchanting Turmoil of 'Cartwheel Galaxy' With Crisp Details!
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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
