An asteroid discovered in 2014 has been officially named after the late musician Elliott Smith. The naming was approved by the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature.
The minor planet now carries the designation “(861969) Elliottsmith.” The tribute marks the first such honor for Smith more than two decades after his death in 2003.
Edinburgh-based filmmaker Orlando Campopiano proposed the name after listening to Smith’s posthumous track “Shooting Star.” He contacted the musician’s estate, and the proposal received formal approval.
Campopiano said the asteroid offers “a permanent legacy in the stars” and expressed hope that it will introduce new listeners to Smith’s music. The number in the designation references the artist’s birth on August 6, 1969.
The asteroid can be tracked through NASA’s Small-Body Database. It joins a list of celestial bodies named after other musicians including David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and the members of The Beatles.
