Small Planet Named After An Indian Scientist
May 2, 2008 by Editor
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
A minor planet in the solar system, which earlier bore just the number 5718 CD4, has now been named after Kollam-based scientist Dr Sainudeen Pattzhy.
Pattazhy, who teaches zoology at a local college, has carried out pioneering research on many environment related issues such as the phenomenon of ‘red rain’ which occurred in Kerala in 2001-the control of mosquitoes, the eco biology of ‘sacred groves’, and the health hazards posed by mobile phone towers.
Pattazhy’s suggestions on the hazards posed by mobile towers are still pending with the Union Ministry of Environment. According to him, the radiation would affect people residing within 300 metres of the towers.
The minor planet to be henceforth known as ‘5718 Pattazhy- was discovered by US-based space scientist Dr R. Rajmohan in 1989.
There are around 400,000 minor planets or asteroids in the solar system, of which 185,685 have well defined orbits and have been allotted numbers by the International Astronomical Union. Around 14,000 of them have been given names.
Dr Pattazhy, had shot into fame interpreting scientifically the “red rains” that lashed southern Kerala during the 2002 monsoon. People were flabbergasted at the red colour of the rains and waves of panic had swept across the region, until the professor came out with his explanation — the rainwater turned red coming into contact with the chemicals contained in the biogas, emitted from the landslides caused by the heavy rains.
Source: HT
Share ThisPopularity: 33% [?]
Tags: Dr Sainudeen Pattzhy, india, International Astronomical Union, Kerala, mobile tower, NASA, planet, red rains of kerala, research paper
Small Planet Named After An Indian Scientist…
A minor planet in the solar system, which earlier bore just the number 5718 CD4, has now been named after Kollam-based scientist Dr Sainudeen Pattzhy….