Terrence Rettig recently received news of his new namesake — a 4.5 billion year-old asteroid.

As associate professor of physics at Notre Dame, Rettig's work on the book, "Completing the Inventory of the Solar System" and his research on comets and planetary formation caught the attention of Ted Bowell. Renowned for asteroid discovery and Rettig's co-author of the "Inventory" book, Bowell recommended to the International Astronomical Union that one of his discoveries, Asteroid 8474, first spotted in 1985, be named Asteroid Rettig.

"This is just a nice honor for people who have been working in the planetary field," Rettig said. "It's a way of recognizing people who have contributed to the science. It's just a nice thing to have happen … a fun thing."

Although Rettig specializes in understanding the chemistry of comets and does not work specifically with asteroids, he does know a bit about his new "baby."

"It is approximately five miles in diameter and it can been seen in the early evening, but it's not something that you can go outside and point to," he said. "It takes an eight- to 10-inch telescope [to see the asteroid]. I can tell you where it is, but it's not something you can just go look at.

"It has an orbit of about three years, and it will be out there forever or at least as long as the solar system is … unless something disturbs it," Rettig added." My friends are sure that my asteroid will be the one that gets distorted in its orbit and eventually hits the earth."

Rettig is described as an extraordinarily popular teacher who has been honored for his ability to make astronomy accessible not only to physics majors but to non-science undergraduates as well. Currently on leave in Washington, D.C., he is helping the National Science Foundation with curriculum development and educational initiatives in physics. "We are trying to promote physics education throughout the country," he said. Rettig intends to return to the University to teach astronomy next fall.

Rettig, and coincidentally, Father Theodore Hesburgh, president emeritus, are the only two people in the state to be honored by name in the solar system. Both of their "heavenly bodies" are currently orbiting the sun in an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. "Asteroids and craters on the moon are the only things that can be named after people," said Rettig. "There are not many people who receive this honor."

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