Asteroids named after people called Mark
👶 Mark as a baby name🐶 Mark as a dog name
(7004) Markthiemens
Mark H. Thiemens (b. 1950) is a professor of chemistry at the University of California, San Diego. He is known for his seminal work on the “mass-independent isotope effect” and for his studies of the early atmosphere of Mars based on isotopic measurements from Martian meteorites.Discovered 24 July 1979 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(7552) Sephton
Mark A. Sephton (b. 1966) is a researcher in organic geochemistry and meteoritics at Imperial College, London. Through his research, he has determined new techniques for the analysis of organics in meteorites.Discovered 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(7778) Markrobinson
Named in honor of Mark Robinson, a planetary geologist who has worked on M-type bodies (Mercury, Moon, Mars, and Minor Planets). He began his career in Alaska, where he prospected for mineral ores and earned his B.S. in geology at the University of Alaska. In Hawaii, he completed his doctorate in 1993 on lunar and martian volcanism and then began his outstanding work on the Clementine mission to the Moon as a member of the U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Branch. His efforts, which he continues from his new base at Northwestern University, are now directed to the NEAR spacecraft mission and to future exploration of Mercury. Citation prepared with the assistance of A. McEwen.Discovered 17 April 1993 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M., Palomar
(7917) Hammergren
Mark Hammergren (b. 1964) is an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. His research investigates the shapes, compositions and internal structures of minor planets. He directs a summer outreach program for high-school students interested in astronomy.Discovered 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(8015) Marksimons
American geophysicist Mark Simons (b. 1967) is a Professor of Geophysics at Caltech's Seismological Laboratory. He has been instrumental in advancing the ability of space geodesy and utilizing technologies like interferometric synthetic aperture radar and global navigation satellite systems to measure geodynamic processes on Earth and beyond.Discovered 24 August 1990 by H. E. Holt, Palomar
(8329) Speckman
Mark Speckman (b. 1955), football coach at Willamette University, was born without hands. He has turned his physical handicap into positive affirmation, touching many with his uplifting story about never giving up, helping others and always doing the very best you can regardless of the circumstances.Discovered 22 March 1982 by H. Debehogne, La Silla
(8686) Akenside
Mark Akenside (1721-1770) was a British poet and physician who studied medicine at the University of Leiden. There he met the French philosopher d´Holbach, who translated his well-known philosophical essay The Pleasures of Imagination (1744) into French (1759).Discovered 26 July 1992 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(8789) Effertz
Mark Joseph Effertz (b. 1977) contributed to NASA's Lucy Trojan asteroid mission as the Mission Operations Spacecraft Engineer.Discovered 7 November 1978 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J., Palomar
(10276) Matney
Mark Matney (b. 1963) of the Johnson Space Center has made fundamental contributions to models and observations of Earth's orbital debris environment.Discovered 3 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(10598) Markrees
Named in honor of the discoverer's stepson, Mark B. Rees (b. 1963).Discovered 13 October 1996 by P. G. Comba, Prescott
(12094) Mazumder
Mark Mohan Mazumder (b. 1985) is a finalist in the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his medicine and health project. He attends the Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A.Discovered 21 April 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(13211) Stucky
Mark P. Stucky (b. 1958) served as a NASA research pilot at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, instructing Space Shuttle astronauts in the T-38 and the Gulfstream-II Shuttle Training Aircraft, and at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.Discovered 3 May 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(13652) Elowitz
Mark Elowitz (b. 1961) is a space scientist with a wide range of experience. He contributed to the Voyager survey of the outer solar system, the Magellan mission to Venus, Project LINEAR and the Galileo survey of the Jupiter system.Discovered 31 January 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(14310) Shuttleworth
South African businessman Mark Shuttleworth (b. 1973) was the first citizen of a country in Africa to venture into space. A civilian cosmonaut on a Soyuz mission in 2002, he spent eight days aboard the International Space Station, where he participated in experiments involving AIDs and genome research.Discovered 7 August 1966 by Boyden Observatory, Bloemfontein
(14835) Holdridge
Mark E. Holdridge (b. 1960) is an operations manager at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. His skillful guidance of the small NEAR Shoemaker Mission Operations team since 1997 resulted in nearly all of the spacecraft's spectacular science return from (253) Mathilde and (433) Eros.Discovered 26 November 1987 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M., Palomar
(15522) Trueblood
Mark Trueblood (b. 1948) managed the Hubble Space Telescope control center at Ford Aerospace Corporation and now manages the U.S. Gemini instrument program at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. He built and operates Winer Observatory in Sonoita, Arizona, as a service to the astronomical community.Discovered 14 December 1999 by C. W. Juels, Fountain Hills
(16105) Marksaunders
Mark Saunders (b. 1942), a NASA engineer/manager, played a key role in the founding of the Discovery Program, which emphasizes frequent access to space for planetary scientists. The name was suggested by J. T. Bergstralh and R. W. Richie.Discovered 14 November 1999 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(16131) Kaganovich
Named in honor of Mark Kaganovich for achievement as a finalist in the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. Mark is a student at the Bloomington High School North, Bloomington, Indiana.Discovered 7 December 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(17251) Vondracek
Named in honor of Mark Vondracek for mentoring a finalist in the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. Vondracek is a teacher at the Evanston Township High School, Evanston, Illinois.Discovered 7 April 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(18499) Showalter
Mark R. Showalter (b. 1957), planetary scientist at the SETI Institute, is (co-)discover of the Jovian gossamer ring, Saturnian moon Pan, Uranian moons Mab and Cupid, two faint Uranian rings, Neptunian moon S/2004 N 1, and Plutonian moons Kerberos and Styx. He is the leader of the Planetary Data Systems Rings Node.Discovered 22 June 1996 by NEAT, Haleakala
(18821) Markhavel
Mark Junichi Havel (b. 1984) was awarded third place in the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his gerontology team project. He attends the Keystone School, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.Discovered 13 July 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(20141) Markidger
Mark Richard Kidger (b. 1960) is a British-born astrophysicist of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, known for his contribution to Spanish astronomy with his dedication to the study of the nature of comets, meteors and minor planets, and for the support and friendship that connect him with the Observatorio de Mallorca.Discovered 13 September 1996 by M. Blasco, Costitx
(20504) Magbanua
Mark Jesus Mendoza Magbanua (b. 1971) is a Filipino-American research scientist at the University of California, San Francisco, where he pioneers circulating tumor cell detection. Mark contributes to the identification of comets and active asteroids via the Ruben Comet Catchers project, including observing with the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope.Discovered 7 September 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(20782) Markcroce
Mark Croce (b. 1986) was awarded second place in the 2004 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his engineering project. He attends the Langley High School, McLean, Virginia, U.S.A.Discovered 4 September 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(22498) Willman
Mark Willman (b. 1952) received his Ph.D. in planetary astronomy from the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy and began working with Pan-STARRS1 in 2013. Name suggested by R. and P. Jedicke.Discovered 5 June 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(23003) Ziminski
Mark Ziminski mentored a finalist in the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the South Brunswick High School, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey.Discovered 9 November 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(23992) Markhobbs
Mark Hobbs mentored a finalist in the 2007 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition. He teaches at the Fairmont Private Schools, Santa Ana, California.Discovered 7 September 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(25538) Markcarlson
Mark Carlson mentored a finalist in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy, Aurora, Illinois.Discovered 8 December 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(25662) Chonofsky
Mark Adrian Chonofsky (b. 1992) was awarded first place and Best in Category in the 2009 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his plant sciences project. He attends the Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.Discovered 5 January 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(27330) Markporter
Mark Porter mentored a finalist in the 2011 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high-school seniors. He teaches at the Mira Loma High School, Sacramento, California, U.S.A.Discovered 2 February 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(28151) Markknopfler
Mark Knopfler (b. 1949) is a Scottish composer, guitarist and singer, who founded Dire Straits in 1977. He is ranked as one of the best guitarists in the world and is now a solo artist, producing music with country, blues and Celtic inspiration.Discovered 22 October 1998 by ODAS, Caussols
(28408) van Baalen
Mark van Baalen (b. 1945) has served on the Lowell Observatory Advisory Board since its founding in 1987. His career in geological sciences and astronomy at Harvard University spanned over five decades. He is a founding member of the New Hampshire Geological Society and a Life Trustee of the Mount Washington Observatory.Discovered 2 October 1999 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(30548) Markburchell
Mark Burchell (b. 1960) is a British Emeritus Professor of Space Science and former head of the Impact Laboratory at the University of Kent. He has contributed to hypervelocity impact studies on a plethora of materials relevant to impacts in the solar system and their connection to astrobiology.Discovered 16 July 2001 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(32379) Markadame
Mark Adame mentored a finalist in the 2016 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas, Texas.Discovered 31 August 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(33262) Marklewis
Mark C. Lewis (b. 1974) is an American professor at Trinity University (San Antonio, TX). He teaches computer science and his research includes numerical simulations of planetary ring systems, with a focus on Saturn and small bodies.Discovered 25 April 1998 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(34310) Markhannum
Mark G. Hannum mentored a finalist in the 2018 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Virginia.Discovered 26 August 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(34322) Marknandor
Mark Nandor mentored a finalist in the 2018 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Wellington School, Columbus, Ohio.Discovered 29 August 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(34443) Markmadland
Mark Madland mentored a finalist in the 2018 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students. He teaches at the Leslie Middle School, Salem, Oregon.Discovered 24 September 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(48838) Markackermann
Mark Ackermann (b. 1959) is an American optical designer and co-inventor of the Celestron wide field Rowe Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) which has allowed many amateur and professional astronomers to discover asteroids, comets and track satellites.Discovered 15 January 1998 by ODAS, Caussols
(51529) Marksimpson
Mark Simpson (b. 1969) is a Canadian scientist trained in electronic design and software engineering. His research focuses on asteroid occultations and tornados. His 2023 invention “ASTRID” has been adopted by many occultation observers. Mark used it to discover the binary nature of (5232), and the fact that TYC 5260–00005–1 is a close double star.Discovered 31 March 2001 by W. K. Y. Yeung, Desert Beaver
(73520) Boslough
Mark Boslough (b. 1955) is a physicist at Sandia National Laboratories. He has computed the most detailed models to date of atmospheric impact phenomena, especially the Tunguska event and the much older impact that produced the Libyan Desert glass found in Egypt.Discovered 22 June 2003 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(90564) Markjarnyk
Mark Andrew Jarnyk (1963-2006) was a software engineer at the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. He made significant contributions to instrumentation for the Gemini Observatory and the JACARA project. This is the first numbered discovery from the Siding Spring Survey.Discovered 12 April 2004 by Siding Spring Survey, Siding Spring
(110026) Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (b. 1951) is an American actor most famous for playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films. Hamill has won acclaim as a voice actor, most notably as the Joker, Batman's archenemy. Hamill has appeared in more than 75 films, hundreds of television episodes, and more than 30 video games.Discovered 17 September 2001 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(128604) Markfisher
Mark Fisher (b. 1964) is responsible for developing the mission control area for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. Mark also led the Spitzer flight operations team to safely operate the mission well past its intended design life.Discovered 21 August 2004 by CSS, Catalina
(129332) Markhunten
Mark Hunten (b. 1954) worked as a senior electrical engineer on the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission OCAMS camera. He also worked on the Gemini 8-m telescopes and the MONSOON CCD and IR array controller.Discovered 23 October 2005 by CSS, Catalina
(130249) Markminer
Mark Miner (b. 1985) is the Thermal Engineer on the Thermal Emission Spectrometer Instrument on the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission.Discovered 5 February 2000 by CSS, Catalina
(134178) Markchodas
Mark A. Chodas (b. 1990) is a student engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology working as the Lead Systems Engineer ensuring that all system components meet science requirements for the student-built Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer aboard the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission.Discovered 2 February 2005 by CSS, Catalina
(167748) Markkelly
Mark E. Kelly (b. 1964) is an astronaut who has flown on four NASA shuttle missions, the most recent of which was Endeavour's final flight which he commanded in 2011 to deliver a cosmic-ray particle detector to the International Space Station.Discovered 12 December 2004 by Jarnac, Vail-Jarnac
(168767) Kochte
Mark C. Kochte (b. 1962) of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, served as a mission operations analyst in support of the SWAP instrument command sequences for the New Horizons Mission to Pluto.Discovered 25 August 2000 by M. W. Buie, Cerro Tololo
(170009) Subbarao
Mark Subbarao (b. 1968) is an American astronomer and a contributor to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. He is best known for being a co-founder and director of the Space Visualization Laboratory at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum.Discovered 5 October 2002 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point
(178088) Marktovey
Mark Alexander Tovey (b. 1970) is an amateur astronomer and Adjunct Research Professor in History at Western University in London, Canada. Tovey received his PhD in Cognitive Science from Carleton University in 2011. He developed historical exhibits in the Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, and is interested in combining history with public astronomy.Discovered 27 September 2006 by T. Glinos, Vail-Jarnac
(190710) Marktapley
Mark B. Tapley (b. 1962) is an Institute Engineer at Southwest Research Institute, who served as the Payload Systems Engineer for the New Horizons Mission to Pluto.Discovered 26 March 2001 by M. W. Buie, Kitt Peak
(303265) Littmann
Mark Littmann (b. 1939) is a professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Tennessee, where he holds the Julia G. & Alfred G. Hill Chair of Excellence in Science, Technology, and Medical Writing. He is also the author of many astronomy related texts.Discovered 8 September 2004 by J. W. Young, Wrightwood
(321673) Huber
Mark E. Huber (b. 1973) is an American researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi with the Pan-STARRS observatory. His focus is on transient source detection and classification, supporting surveys for Near-Earth objects and explosive transients.Discovered 16 February 2010 by Mount Lemmon Survey, Mount Lemmon
(333288) Markperry
Mark Perry (b. 1955) is an American planetary scientist. He played a key role in the planning and analysis of data from the OSIRIS-REx laser altimeter and constrained the strength of Bennu's surface materials through analysis of impact ejecta.Discovered 29 September 1999 by CSS, Catalina
(333617) Markjohnson
Mark A. Johnson (b. 1971) is an American engineer. He was the Entry, Descent and Landing Lead for the OSIRIS-REx mission.Discovered 8 October 2007 by CSS, Catalina
(345971) Marktorrence
Mark H. Torrence (b. 1952) is a planetary scientist and a contributor to the data analysis of the MLA laser altimeter on the MESSENGER Mercury mission and the LOLA altimeter at the Moon. He has published on the lunar crater Shackleton, and the topography and the internal structure of Mercury.Discovered 14 October 2007 by D. R. Skillman, Front Royal
(377108) Spoelie
‘Spoelie’ is the nickname of Mark Spoelstra (b. 1962), a Dutch planetarium technician. From its start in 1988 until 2025, Mark worked at the Artis Planetarium in Amsterdam, the largest projection planetarium in the Netherlands. In the early 1990s, he co-developed the DigiDome software that later became the basis of full-dome video projection.Discovered 23 November 2002 by NEAT, Palomar
(391532) Markdowning
Mark Downing (b. 1957) is an expert in wavefront sensing CCDs used in state-of-the-art astronomical adaptive optics systems. Mark was instrumental in the development of the CCD220 which is key to the performance of the Extremely Large Telescope, which at 39-meter aperture will be the largest optical telescope ever developed for astronomy.Discovered 8 September 2007 by L. H. Wasserman, Cerro Tololo
(554268) Marksylvester
Mark Lyle George Sylvester (b. 1952, South Africa) joined United World College of the Adriatic in 1983 and has been instrumental in its development since its early years. Renowned for his adventurous teaching methods, Mark has inspired several generations of students with his innovative approach to learning, both inside and outside the physics lab.Discovered 26 September 2012 by T. Vorobjov, Mount Lemmon SkyCe
(565122) Markbowman
Mark Bowman (1950–2023) was an American science teacher with a lifelong interest in teaching astronomy to students. He taught at Frederick County Public Schools in Frederick, Maryland, and was a driving force in the construction of the Earth & Space Science Lab which came to fruition in 2009. Name suggested by J. Gunn and S. Chen, who participated in IASC.Discovered 25 July 2011 by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala