An Irish amateur astronomer has named an asteroid after his mother who died of cancer almost five years ago. "(215016) Catherinegriffin" is the first asteroid to be both discovered in Ireland and named after an Irish person for more than 160 years.
Following hot on the heels of the discovery of 2008 TM9 from Celbridge observatory. Another asteroid has been discovered by an irish amateur astronomer. On October 21st an asteroid was discovered by Dave Grennan at Raheny observatory. This asteroid has been designated 2008 US3 by the International Astronomical Union.
Dave Grennan discovered the mag 19.5 asteroid on images taken using his 14" SCT from the Raheny Observatory in Dublin. The main belt asteroid 2008 US3 (K08U03S) is currently in southern Pegasus.
Like celestial buses, you wait 160 years for a new asteroid and then two come along at once. Raheny, Dublin-based amateur astronomer David Grennan has discovered a new asteroid following a couple of nights' observation last week which involved looking for moving objects against the fixed backgrounds of the stars.