Israeli asteroid researcher Ilan Manolis had an asteroid named after him

The asteroid was discovered by Eugene and Caroline Shoemaker and David Levy in 1994.

A great honor fell to an amateur astronomer from Israel. Ilan Manolis worked and continues to work throughout his life to promote knowledge about astronomy in Israel in general, and asteroids and comets in particular. Ilan served as the chairman of the Israel Astronomical Society in the years 1984-1987 and currently serves as the head of the division for research on small bodies in the solar system in the society. His day job is at a hi-tech company.

After the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in 1994, the danger of a collision by celestial bodies with the Earth was made clear to humanity. Today it is also clear that it was an asteroid that collided with the earth and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and about 73% of the species that existed 65 million years ago. Since then, Ilan has become the biggest expert in Israel in the field of NEO's - Near Earth Objects, the bodies in the solar system that endanger the future of humanity. He wrote articles and lectured the public about the danger inherent in them, and the need for early detection.

During the 80s, he worked at the Wiz Observatory in Mitzpe Ramon in a joint program with the American space agency, NASA, with the aim of creating the "Watch Star Catalog" (GSC) for use by the Hubble Space Telescope. With the help of Avishai Gal-Yam from Tel Aviv University, he conducted a study using a telescope at Mitzpe Wiz. During the study, two identified more than 50 new asteroids, which have not yet received official confirmation. Over the years he lectured dozens of times for the promotion of scientific education in Israel.

During his life he made many connections with astronomers in Israel and around the world. Among other things, he was in contact with David Levy, the astronomer who jointly discovered with his partners Eugene and Caroline Shoemaker the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 mentioned above. After the tragic death of Eugene in a car accident in 1997, David and Caroline remained to explore and search for comets and asteroids. The two also discovered on November 28, 1994 a new asteroid at the Mount Palomar Observatory.

The practice regarding the names of comets and asteroids is this: comets are named after a discoverer, and as for asteroids, the discoverers can propose a name to the committee, which may accept or reject the proposal. They decided to propose a name for the asteroid - "Manolis". Today, the 15th of November 2000, it was decided to accept the offer. The official announcement of the "Center for Small Bodies" -" "Planet Center
Minor is:

Manulis = 1994 WP13 Discovered 1994 Nov. 28 by CS Shoemaker)
. 13615) and D
. H. Levy at Palomar (b. 1949) has enthusiastically promoted the
Ilan Manulis
study of near-earth objects from Israel and built awareness
among the public
by lectures and media programs. During the 1980s, he was chairman
of the Israelis
Astronomical Association. He now serves as IAA's head of small
solar system
.objects
and in translation:
Manolis 13615 - discovered on November 28, 1994 (and thus also called 1994 WP13) by Eugene and Caroline Shoemaker and David Levy in Plummer.
Ilan Manolis researched the objects from Israel and built awareness among the general public through lectures and media appearances. During the XNUMXs Haha was the chairman of the Israeli Astronomical Society. Today he heads the section of small objects in the solar system at the Israeli Astronomical Society.
This is a great honor for Ilan Manolis. Not many people get to be named after an asteroid. He does deserve this honor.