Dictionary of Minor Planet Names

The quantity of numbered minor planets has now well exceeded a quarter million. The new sixth edition of the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, which is the IAU's official reference for the field, now covers more than 17000 named minor planets. §In addition to being of practical value for identification purposes, the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names provides authoritative information about the basis for the rich and colorful variety of ingenious names, from heavenly goddesses to artists, from scientists to Nobel laureates, from historial or political figures to ordinary women and men, from mountains to buildings, as well as a variety of compound terms and curiosities. §This 6th edition of the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names has grown by more than 7000 entries as compared to the 5th edition and by more than 2000 entries as compared to the 5th edition including its two addenda published in 2006 and 2009. In addition, there are many corrections, amendments and updates to the entries published in earlier editions. §This work is a wealthy source of information for anybody interested in minor planets and who enjoys reading about people or things for whom a minor planet serves as a memorial.