This huge asteroid was named after a Filipino doctor

You’ve heard about a tree being named after Leonardo DiCaprio, and how a newly discovered beetle was named in honor of former ADMU President Fr. Jett Villarin. But this time, an asteroid was named as a tribute to Dr. Jose Francisco “Jett” Aguilar.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that the Paris-based International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially called the eight-kilometer-wide rocky object orbiting around the sun “7431 Jettaguilar”.

Aguilar works as a neurosurgeon at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center. DOST’s statement said that his successful removal of a parasitic twin from a three-week-old infant in 2019 is one of his known medical achievements.

The 60-year-old doctor is also the clinical director of the Philippine Movement Disorder Surgery Center. It pioneered the Deep Brain Stimulation surgery for patients in the country “who are afflicted with a rare genetic movement disorder called X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.”

Apart from being busy with saving children’s lives, Aguilar has been an astrophotographer for over 15 years. He took photos of the Sun, the transit of Venus, lunar eclipses, and other celestials in space. Interestingly, he’s also the vice president of the Astronomical League of the Philippines.

In a press statement sent to Inquirer, Agular said, ‘I am really at a loss for words. Not even in my wildest dreams have I imagined having an asteroid named after me.’

‘Honestly, I sincerely believe that there is a long list of more deserving Filipino amateur astronomers ahead of me,’ he added. ‘But I guess there has never been a Filipino, or American, neurosurgeon yet who had received such an honor.’

According to IAU’s Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN), Asteroid 7431 Jettaguilar was discovered on March 19, 1993, from the European Southern Observatory in Chile and was initially introduced as 1993 FN41.

Banner: (L) Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre

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Source: we the pvblic