<p>If the discoverers don't propose a name (and they have a 10 year interval in which to do so) then the object remains unnamed.</p>
<p>This minor solar system body has a permanent designation, &quot;307261&quot; which uniquely identifies it.  So there is no <em>need</em> for a name. There is no provision for the IAU to grant the naming rights to a third person, and certainly the naming rights aren't auctioned or available for sale.</p>
<p>So if the discoverers don't name it, it remains known only by its numeric code.</p>
<p>See <a href="https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/</a> section &quot;Minor Planets&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-18T22:57:57.310Z
According to your link, the discoverer has the _privilege_ of naming it for ten years. That means after that, anyone can theoretically name it, but it still has to be approved, as you say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(307261)_2002_MS4#Numbering_and_naming
PJSCopeland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-25T21:04:54.523Z
2021-12-25T21:04:54.523Z
James K
<p>Actually anyone can name this Dwarf Planet at this point, it just has to follow the guidelines specified in the link above.. Dr. Jan Ticha at the IAU is the one that receives the submissions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-10T22:03:04.117Z
This is probably right, but the IAU normally ignores naming suggestions from people who don't have a particular interest in the object.  Anyone can *suggest* a name, but unless you can also demonstrate a need for the object to be named, you can expect your suggestion to fall on deaf ears.
James K
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-11T02:42:36.603Z
Can you provide more details to your answer? What exactly are the criteria that need to be met?
WarpPrime
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-10T21:45:47.547Z
2022-01-10T21:45:47.547Z
OrcustheDwarf
<p>The trans-Neptunian planetoid <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(307261)_2002_MS4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2002 MS4</a> is currently the largest known unnamed Sun-orbiting object. Is there any standard schedule on when this and similar objects might be named? Usually the discoverers propose the names for the celestial body, which Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown obiously haven't. In that case, what will happen?</p>

<naming><trans-neptunian-object><iau>
When will 2002 MS4 be named?
John
# When will 2002 MS4 be named?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-19)

The trans-Neptunian planetoid [2002 MS4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(307261)_2002_MS4) is currently the largest known unnamed Sun-orbiting object. Is there any standard schedule on when this and similar objects might be named? Usually the discoverers propose the names for the celestial body, which Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown obiously haven't. In that case, what will happen?

**Tags:** naming, trans-neptunian-object, iau


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-12-25. Score: 1

If the discoverers don't propose a name (and they have a 10 year interval in which to do so) then the object remains unnamed.

This minor solar system body has a permanent designation, "307261" which uniquely identifies it. So there is no *need* for a name. There is no provision for the IAU to grant the naming rights to a third person, and certainly the naming rights aren't auctioned or available for sale.

So if the discoverers don't name it, it remains known only by its numeric code.

See <https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/> section "Minor Planets"

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: According to your link, the discoverer has the _privilege_ of naming it for ten years. That means after that, anyone can theoretically name it, but it still has to be approved, as you say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(307261)_2002_MS4#Numbering_and_naming  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-01-10. Score: 1

Actually anyone can name this Dwarf Planet at this point, it just has to follow the guidelines specified in the link above.. Dr. Jan Ticha at the IAU is the one that receives the submissions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is probably right, but the IAU normally ignores naming suggestions from people who don't have a particular interest in the object.  Anyone can *suggest* a name, but unless you can also demonstrate a need for the object to be named, you can expect your suggestion to fall on deaf ears.  
> **username_4**: Can you provide more details to your answer? What exactly are the criteria that need to be met?  

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