<p>Tonantzitla Observatory.
See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TON_618" rel="noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TON_618</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonantzintla_Observatory" rel="noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonantzintla_Observatory</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-02T21:21:13.253Z
Oh, thanks, I am an idiot, when I skimmed the article on wikipedia, I did not make that connection.
TStancek
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-02T23:05:54.847Z
It’s not being an idiot; it’s a moment of lacking attention… Everyone has one of them once in a while…
Pierre Paquette
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-02T20:52:36.097Z
2021-10-02T20:52:36.097Z
Pierre Paquette
<p>I don't think <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TON_618" rel="nofollow noreferrer">TON 618</a> is a random name, but rather a composition of category name and a number.</p>
<p>But when I tried to google it, any article about TON 618 did not contain anything about its name origin and nor did lists about astronomy acronyms contained the term TON.</p>
<p>Even if I am wrong about the composition of category name with a number, I still cannot find any information about origin of its name.</p>
<p>So please, can anyone tell me how TON 618 got its name?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-03T23:18:14.823Z
I think you could also write a follow-up question "In what ways do quasars get their designations?" See for example the answer to [How did Biden become VP? (naming of 2012 VP113)](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/28773/7982) and [How official is TNO 486958, 2014 MU69's new name Arrokoth?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/33916/7982) and [What is the naming convention for newly discovered objects?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/81/7982)
uhoh
<quasars><naming>
What does "TON" in TON 618 stand for?
TStancek
# What does "TON" in TON 618 stand for?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-02)

I don't think [TON 618](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TON_618) is a random name, but rather a composition of category name and a number.

But when I tried to google it, any article about TON 618 did not contain anything about its name origin and nor did lists about astronomy acronyms contained the term TON.

Even if I am wrong about the composition of category name with a number, I still cannot find any information about origin of its name.

So please, can anyone tell me how TON 618 got its name?

**Tags:** quasars, naming

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think you could also write a follow-up question "In what ways do quasars get their designations?" See for example the answer to [How did Biden become VP? (naming of 2012 VP113)](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/28773/7982) and [How official is TNO 486958, 2014 MU69's new name Arrokoth?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/33916/7982) and [What is the naming convention for newly discovered objects?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/81/7982)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-10-02. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Tonantzitla Observatory.
See <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TON_618> and <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonantzintla_Observatory>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh, thanks, I am an idiot, when I skimmed the article on wikipedia, I did not make that connection.  
> **username_2**: It’s not being an idiot; it’s a moment of lacking attention… Everyone has one of them once in a while…  

---

