…and this is a 
What an honor: Jeff Medkeff, an astronomer and discoverer of asteroids, has been generous to name a recently discovered set of distant rocks after Michael Stackpole, Rebecca Watson, Phil Plait, and me. That's right, there is now a few billion tons of rock and metal spinning overhead with my name on it, asteroid 153298 Paulmyers. You can find a picture of its orbit and location, just in case you want to visit.
Now I don't know much about astronomy — I know this rock doesn't have any squid on it, unfortunately, and that it's small, cold, and remote (hey, just like where I am now! Only more so!) — but Phil Plait describes the details of his asteroid.
To give you an idea of the asteroid's size, it has more than 200 times the volume of Hoover Dam. Assuming that it's made of rock, it has a mass of about 2 quadrillion grams, or about 2 billion tons. If it's metal it'll be about twice that massive.
When I mentioned this to Skatje, the first thing she asked was whether mine was bigger than Phil's. Phil admits that it probably is twice the size, although it's an estimate from relative brightness, so it could be that they're of similar size, but mine is brighter, or Phil's is dimmer … it's all good. The rivalry continues!
Now I have to wonder…do I have mineral rights? Can I at least retire to 153298 Paulmyers? When's the next space bus to the asteroid belt? How about some photos of my rock (near as I can tell, any photo is going to be just of a tiny point of reflected light)?
Physical Science
Comments
Posted by: jdb | March 25, 2008 1:05 PM
What a sad day for science. He should have named the asteroid after Nisbet.
Posted by: woody, tokin librul | March 25, 2008 1:06 PM
What's that? Gotta asteroid in your orbit, or are ya just glad to see me?
Posted by: silence | March 25, 2008 1:07 PM
You don't really know that there aren't squid on 153298 Paulmyers. If we can find meteorites which consist of small chunks of Mars, surely there are ones which consist of frozen calamari out there somewhere, and there is presumably a (vanishingly small) chance that one of those wound up gravitationally attached to 153298 Paulmyers.
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk | March 25, 2008 1:07 PM
Nisbet is covered already. I just had a bowel movement and named it after him.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | March 25, 2008 1:08 PM
Who is this "Paul" Myers of which you speak?
No, seriously, this is great stuff. Rebecca was dropping hints about it last night at Skeptics in the Pub: "astronomical news" involving her, Phil Plait and P-Zed? What could that be — our cephalopod overlords from Tau Ceti IV finally announcing their presence? Now, all becomes clear.
Posted by: cthulu | March 25, 2008 1:11 PM
What rights? How do you know that octopoid aliens haven't already landed there, claimed it for themselves, and built a base? A good spot to observe earthly fools as they prepare for invasion.
Posted by: Schmeer | March 25, 2008 1:11 PM
Why? Is it full of shit?Posted by: catta | March 25, 2008 1:12 PM
Congratulations, PZ! Best Pet Rock ever. =)
Posted by: Zeno | March 25, 2008 1:12 PM
An asteroid? Heck, for a few bucks you can get a star named after you on the International Star Registry. Of course, it wouldn't be recognized by any official body of any kind, but people who don't know any better would be impressed by the nice certificate, suitable for framing.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | March 25, 2008 1:14 PM
Oh PZ, when is this useless competition between you and Phil going to end? Can't we just accept that astronomy and biology constitute nonoverlapping magisteria?
Posted by: Don | March 25, 2008 1:15 PM
And if it plunges to earth, will your insurance cover the damage?
Posted by: me | March 25, 2008 1:16 PM
market some mineral rights options and you'll be able to retire from this blogging gig once and for all....maybe to a quiet sea somewhere, where you can while away the days herding squid
Posted by: RAM | March 25, 2008 1:16 PM
"You don't really know that there aren't squid on 153298 Paulmyers."
Hey, as our stupid creationist friends would say "how do you know, were you there"?. ;-)
Posted by: Schmeer | March 25, 2008 1:16 PM
*shakes fist menacingly at Reginald Selkirk's faster typing*
Posted by: allkom | March 25, 2008 1:20 PM
No time for bathroom betting btw you and Phil Plait . Both deserve congratulations for the acknowledgment . Besides you're already on the spots ;).
Posted by: Michelle | March 25, 2008 1:21 PM
Congrats but ... Do you WANT to retire there? Think well, you said it: No squids. And it's a rock in space. With nothing on it, and... No squids.
Come on. You can't go there.
Posted by: Tony Popple | March 25, 2008 1:24 PM
This rivalry is going to get expensive.
We need to start a fund-raising effort so that we can send a robotic probe out there and cover PZ's rock with reflective material.
Posted by: Rien | March 25, 2008 1:25 PM
The physicist Gerard 't Hooft got an asteroid named after him too. You should also set up a constitution: http://www.phys.uu.nl/~thooft/constitution.html
('t Hooft is a Nobel laureate and general all-round genius if you aren't familiar with the name.)
Posted by: Sili | March 25, 2008 1:25 PM
As I said hither:
When are you gonna have it carved in your tentacular image? We could use a good graven one Master.
Posted by: Ron | March 25, 2008 1:28 PM
Of course Phil is dimmer, he's a mere astronomer as opposed to a biologist....
Posted by: Deepsix | March 25, 2008 1:31 PM
Is your asteroid anywhere near the rings of Uranus? (someone had to say it).
Anyway, I'm sure there are several IDiots who are starting a fund to send you to your home planet.
Posted by: Azkyroth | March 25, 2008 1:31 PM
Cue Sal Cordova quote-mining in 3, 2, 1...
Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 25, 2008 1:32 PM
Proper characteristics an asteroid would need to be properly named after Nisbet:
small
silicaceous
hyperbolic trajectory through Solar System
perigee approximately 100,000 AU
rotation period
So find a lightweight, careering, useless hunk of rock that spins furiously but affects nothing, and you've got Planet Nisbet.
Posted by: Eric | March 25, 2008 1:50 PM
I predict this will be the asteroid that crashes into Earth and turns us all into zombies.
Posted by: Sigmund | March 25, 2008 1:52 PM
Apparently Nisbet's having a hemorrhoid named after him.
Posted by: Dan | March 25, 2008 1:53 PM
There goes the neighborhood.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | March 25, 2008 1:55 PM
I for one will welcome our Asteroid Squid Overlords when they steer their death rock into our planet and enslave the lot of us.
Posted by: Dan | March 25, 2008 1:57 PM
I wonder what the creotards are thinking about this sort of thing. I'd imagine it would make them all sorts of wigged-out gonky to realize that there is now a heavenly body named after PZ Myers.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | March 25, 2008 2:01 PM
Congratulations! That's as close to an apotheosis as you're likely to get :o)
:-D :-D :-D
Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 25, 2008 2:01 PM
OK, I'm an idiot for forgetting to escape the "<" symbol in "< 1 hour".
Posted by: Diego | March 25, 2008 2:04 PM
Okay there have been a lot of jokes in this thread at Nisbet's expense (and I think deservedly so), but I think that Chris Clarke wind teh internets with his.
"So find a lightweight, careering, useless hunk of rock that spins furiously but affects nothing, and you've got Planet Nisbet."
Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 2:06 PM
Mirror, mirror, in the sky
Who's the brightest science guy?
Posted by: PZ Myers | March 25, 2008 2:10 PM
Although it would be nice if a simple, positive post like this one weren't turned into yet another Nisbet-bashing opportunity…
Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 25, 2008 2:15 PM
Point taken, PZ, and I'm sorry to sully this very nice tribute.
Posted by: jdb | March 25, 2008 2:21 PM
Sorry, PZ, my fault for getting that ball rolling.
Of course, since all publicity is good publicity, even Nisbet-bashing is good for Nisbet, right?
Damn. Did it again, didn't I?
Anyway, congratulations.
Posted by: Torbjörn Larsson, OM | March 25, 2008 2:28 PM
Sorry, no space buses; personal rocketry hasn't any kind of beltway.
You should return that to your company ink tank, it smells fishy - because we live on an astronomical body. Seems empiricism joins these two disparate subjects and shows that superlife is a dead option.
@ Chris:
ROTL!
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk | March 25, 2008 2:28 PM
Right-o. Switch over to Moon-ey bashing mode. Does someone want to name a gallstone after mini-Matt?Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 2:31 PM
I'm a little puzzled (and not a little dismayed) by the intensity of the anti-Nisbet (and to a lesser extent, anti-Mooney and even anti-Kirshenbaum) sentiments here. Sure, the call for RD and PZ to silence themselves is borderline ludicrous; sure, there's a Chamberlain thing happening, and that's not good, but I'm seeing the kind of criticisms and epithets normally reserved for the Cordovas and Luskins of our world being thrown at the folks over there in the pro-framing squad. What's the scoop? Matt, Chris and Sheril aren't on the side of science, rationality and secularism anymore? I hardly think that's the case.
What I see is: A fairly serious disagreement in the area of tactics and framing, and a growing schism being fed by a lot of gratutitous personal mud-slinging. Is that really necessary, or helpful to anyone outside of the cozy confines of UhDuh?
I claim no special insight into this matter, but I'd be lying if I said that it didn't concern me.
Posted by: Dave | March 25, 2008 2:33 PM
Dancing Rodents, Oh Squidmeister.
Posted by: An | March 25, 2008 2:41 PM
Haha!! :)
Posted by: Azkyroth | March 25, 2008 2:43 PM
Kseniya: I think it's a combination of Nisbet making himself quite a nuisance for quite a while, and some of us just enjoying coming up with biting, clever potshots whenever we're given an excuse. :)
Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 2:45 PM
Ah, I see PZ kinda beat me to the punch here. Me B slow 2day.
(Still... it's not only this thread. Just sayin'.)
Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 2:51 PM
Azky - understood, and I'm not saying any criticism is undeserved. As I wrote, it's the intensity and kind that troubles me, for reasons stated.
(*shrug*) I dunno, maybe I'm feeling hypersensitive today. It's been known to happen. But I'm not taking anything back. :-)
Posted by: Eamon Knight | March 25, 2008 2:53 PM
Heck, for a few bucks you can get a star named after you on the International Star Registry.
Isn't that the outfit that's run by Scientology?
(No framers were insulted in the writing of this post).
Posted by: jdb | March 25, 2008 2:59 PM
Kseniya, at the risk of further derailing this thread: For me, it's because I get the impression that Nisbet's sole contribution to "science, rationality, and secularism" is through criticizing the contributions of others. We can all think of examples of other "defenders of science" who take a different, softer approach than PZ or Dawkins; Michael Shermer and Neil de Grasse Tyson come to mind. But I know of those gentlemen because of their own contributions, whereas the only time I hear of Nisbet doing anything, it's criticising the approach of others.
Perhaps that's my own ignorance showing. Maybe Nisbet has made some great contributions of which I'm unaware, in which case I'd be delighted if someone would point them out.
I also find it a little suspicious that Nisbet's actions are just as consistent with promoting Matt Nisbet as they are with promoting The Cause. I don't hate the man, but I think he deserves to be taken down a notch or two, and someone who's so free to tell others to shut up ought to be willing to take some strong criticism in return.
Posted by: Bee | March 25, 2008 3:06 PM
Do we get to describe PZed as 'other-worldly', now?
Posted by: Kristjan Wager | March 25, 2008 3:12 PM
Congratulations - that's indeed a rare honour. Now, you just need a chemical name after you in some way or other, and then we'll be impressed (winkie thingie)
Posted by: andy | March 25, 2008 3:17 PM
IIRC in Stephen Baxter's Manifold: Time they send out a bunch of genetically-modified squid to colonise an asteroid.
Posted by: MH | March 25, 2008 3:23 PM
Folks, regarding Nisbett: zippit! zip! z-!
Posted by: Inoculated Mind | March 25, 2008 3:28 PM
Azkyroth wins the thread.
Posted by: thwaite | March 25, 2008 3:39 PM
Ay, anyone can name rocks out in the starry sky.
But will they come when you call their names?
[ with apologies to The Bard ]
Posted by: blf | March 25, 2008 3:42 PM
Congratulations!
As pointed out over at Phil's blog, Randi's is larger than his, yours, and Arthur C Clarke's--but Clarke's was named first.
Then of course there's the wonderfully named 2001 DA42, a.k.a. (25924) DouglasAdams.
Posted by: Paul | March 25, 2008 3:52 PM
Congratulations!
They even mentioned it just now on Minnesota Public Radio.
Posted by: qedpro | March 25, 2008 3:52 PM
ironically PZs rock is only 6000 years old.
i have no proof of that of course, but because I believe it, it must be true.
Posted by: L.Nielsen | March 25, 2008 4:00 PM
As I said over at Phils about him, I will repeat here about you: You are a great defender and promoter of science, critical thinking and reason. You deserve it too.
Tillykke!
Posted by: Adzam | March 25, 2008 4:02 PM
surely you can find your asteroid on google sky somewhere...
and many congratulations on your newfound fame and fortune
Posted by: Bride of Shrek | March 25, 2008 4:34 PM
Oh hey, I've deen this movie. Doesn't it get really close to Earth, and defying all principles of physics as we know it, Bruce Willis plants a thermonuclear (which are much badder than plain old nuclear) device in the core and blows himself up all the while being substoried by the improbable plotline of the beautiful Liv Tyler shaboinking the horribly Rojer Ramjetted jaw faced Ben Affleck and...
Posted by: Bert Chadick | March 25, 2008 4:47 PM
Beware PZed! The only advantage to being famous is being able to cash in. Get that book out. Book your Evolution '08 tour. Above all, hire a manager. Ka-Ching!
Posted by: Farb | March 25, 2008 4:51 PM
#5: . . . our cephalopod overlords from Tau Ceti IV . . .
Gonna have a little bit of trouble finding the cephalopods' homeworld (or for that matter liquid water) four planets (rocky--otherwise no place for liquid water to pool into oceans) out from there, since based on the star's luminosity, an earthlike planet would be need to be located 0.7 AU away. I'd look for the homeworld on TCII instead (and since we haven't been able to find anything bigger than, say, Neptune, that's still a few years off). Now, of course, if they had a base on TCIV, or for that matter, an off-world imperial capital, all bets are off.
Just ruins a nice sci-fi fantasy, doesn't it? Well, at least it avoids the N-subject!
Posted by: The Countess | March 25, 2008 4:54 PM
Congrats, PZ. That's really cool! Believe it or no, you are the second person I know who has had an asteroid named after him. The first is a close friend of mine who works at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He's an astrophysicist.
Knowing scientists is cool. They get asteroids named after them. ;)
Posted by: The Countess | March 25, 2008 4:56 PM
One more thing about the NASA guy, PZ - he's also a hard science fiction writer.
Posted by: Farb | March 25, 2008 4:58 PM
BTW, PZed, congrats on having your very own asteroid.
Posted by: David vun Kannon | March 25, 2008 5:01 PM
Now find another friend to name a cephalopod after you and its dicyemid mesozoan after...
Posted by: Geral | March 25, 2008 5:07 PM
It's not a very exciting orbit. We need to start writing letters to NASA to send a probe to smash into it!
Posted by: Vadjong | March 25, 2008 5:22 PM
Well, I suppose it's better than having some syndrome or disease named after you; but not as good as newfound deep-ocean cephalopod.
Also, please write your local astrologer and ask for an appropiate update of your horoscope. See if your life has changed.
Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 5:42 PM
Speaking of rocks'n'stuff, my little brother once named a future coprolite after me...
Does that count?
Posted by: Zach Miller | March 25, 2008 5:53 PM
Right on! Congrats, PZ. Next time I buy a giant high-calibur telescope, I'll look for your asteroid. :-)
Posted by: John McKay | March 25, 2008 5:56 PM
What? No asteroid for Ben Stein?
That's odd.
Posted by: Chris Clarke | March 25, 2008 6:06 PM
What, Megaloteuthis myersi wasn't good enough for you people?
Posted by: Azkyroth | March 25, 2008 6:18 PM
An asteroid?
Wouldn't it be more appropriate to name a hemorrhoid after him?
Posted by: Kseniya | March 25, 2008 6:35 PM
Chris, that's awesome! :-D
Posted by: knightwhosaysni | March 25, 2008 6:45 PM
If ever 153298 Paulmyers collides with the earth someday, perhaps it'll land on AiG's creationist museum -- if God exists, perhaps that would be his form of "ironic punishment" to AiG for creating more atheists than converting them.
Posted by: s | March 25, 2008 6:48 PM
Congratulations on the asteroid, PZ!
I took a look at the JPL orbital tracking site link, though and there is one thing that seems to stand out about your particular hunk of rock though; it's orbit seems a bit...well...
eccentric...
not that Jeff meant anything by that, I'm sure.
Posted by: Alan Clark | March 25, 2008 7:16 PM
My favourite asteroid name is Mister Spock. Wiki:-
"2309 Mr. Spock is a small asteroid in the main asteroid belt, about 11 km in diameter. It was discovered in 1971 by James B. Gibson. Its name does not come directly from the character of Mr. Spock in Star Trek, but rather from the discoverer's cat. Like his namesake, the feline Mr. Spock was "imperturbable, logical, intelligent, and had pointed ears". The naming created an uproar, and the International Astronomical Union subsequently decided that pet animal names were to be discouraged. A number of other asteroids have since been named after Star Trek characters, as well as after musicians and other figures in pop culture."
Posted by: Bride of Shrek | March 25, 2008 7:33 PM
From the JPL tracking site, a small disclaimer regarding their projections...
"...hence should not be used for determining accurate long-term trajectories (over several years or decades) or planetary encounter circumstances.".
PLANETORY ENCOUNTER CIRCUMSTANCES?!? We all know thats NASA code for its gonna crash. Aaaaarggh, run for the hills. I'm off to the bunker with 10 years worth of cab sav and a clean glass. You would all be wise to do the same.
Posted by: mothra | March 25, 2008 9:24 PM
Twinkle twinkle asteroid,
so far away there in the void.
One distant rock, a name acquires,
congratulations P. Z. Myers
Posted by: October Mermaid | March 25, 2008 10:12 PM
This offers a perfect opportunity to mention again one of my favorite Christian songs by a band called FFH. I promise you, I'm not making these lyrics up. They REALLY sing this:
"Well, I don't know that much about astronauts
but I know that Jesus cares an awful lot!"
Haha, oh wow.
Posted by: Sam | March 25, 2008 11:42 PM
Congratulations to PZ and the other recipients! What a fantastic honor! I'll be thinking of your asteroids when I look up in the sky.
Posted by: Tristan I Croll | March 26, 2008 12:30 AM
But, from what I hear, that's been the case for years - unless his trophy wife kept her own surname...?
Posted by: jeh | March 26, 2008 1:40 AM
Re: 153298
"That's no asteroid! It's a space station."
Posted by: Jim | March 26, 2008 3:32 AM
Will help secure mineral right for room, board, delta V, and suit.
Posted by: Andreas Johansson | March 26, 2008 7:08 AM
Congratulations!
I'm starting to think I should set up a blog of my own ...
Posted by: LisaJ | March 26, 2008 8:24 AM
Congratulations! That's so exciting.
Posted by: madarab | March 26, 2008 9:11 AM
PZ, have you read "Manifest Time" by Steven Baxter? It's got asteroids and squid in it. :)
Posted by: Schpatz | March 26, 2008 11:30 AM
Congrats PZ,
I even heard about this on MPR last night. Your celebrity seems to be taking off: NYTimes, asteroids, radio, movies...I think it's time for a new reality show based around your life.
Maybe on FOX...
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | March 26, 2008 9:46 PM
Nice one PZ, BA et al, well earned and quite appropriate. Next time I'm out that way I shall have to pay it a visit :)
Posted by: Emma | March 27, 2008 2:46 AM
Congratulations! This a well deserved honor for a staunch defender of evolution and rationality. Though neither cephalopods nor zebrafish seem to be likely residents of 'your' real estate. BTW, my understanding of Minnesota property tax law indicates that you will not be getting an additional property assessment, yet. However, I really think you need to respond to Phil Plait's assertion regarding the relative size of your respective asteroids. "In fact I think PZ is overcompensating for something." I can't imagine what that could be. Does it have something to do with male cephalopod anatomy?
Posted by: Monado, FCD | March 27, 2008 12:46 PM
Your asteroid 153298 Paulmyers might not have a squid on it, but it might have a rock formation that if looked at from the correct angle, photographed under the right slant of light, unfocussed enough, and squinted at enough looks like a squid. Shouldn't that be enough?