Fri Mar 28, 2008 — by Glenn Hauman

Michael A. Stackpole Is An Asteroid

No, really, we're not insulting him

Science fiction, role-playing game, and comics author Michael A. Stackpole (Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron) has just found out that an asteroid has been named after him. Stackpole reports:

On March 23, 2001, David Healy and Jeff Medkeff discovered an asteroid about a mile in diameter, in the asteroid belt on the Mars side of the solar system. It was designated 165612.

Until today.

Now that asteroid is officially known as Stackpole. The International Astronomical Union approved the designation on March 21.

I am completely blown away. I can remember looking at images of the moon or Mars and seeing features named after famous people. I never figured my name might be up there somewhere. As Phil Plait so aptly notes in the post referenced below, this is a slice of immortality that goes beyond writing books.

If you click on this link, you can see a 3D render map, thanks to JPL, of where Stackpole orbits.

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