It’s Official!

*Above: Star chart of Gumala with exoplanet Mastika in Sagittarius constellation*

The complete official results from 110+ countries are available via http://www.nameexoworlds.iau.org/final-results

People/institutions who proposed the approved names: http://www.nameexoworlds.iau.org/proposers

Brunei Proposer, Congratulations!

Pengiran Mohammad Rezal bin Pengiran Haji Osman, Brunei Darussalam’s representative was among the winners of the programme by organising Name ExoWorlds programme under Brunei Darussalam Astronomical Association. Mastika and Gumala are the new names that was certified by the International Astronomical Union, IAU, for an exoplanet and the star.

Official Announcement by IAU

A press conference to present the official results of the NameExoWorlds campaign to name more than 100 exoplanets and host stars by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) was held on Tuesday, 17 December 2019 at 6 pm (Brunei Time) from Observatoire de Paris, Salle Cassini

About NameExoWorlds

Currently there are a total of more than 4,000 confirmed planets that orbit stars outside the solar system known as exoplanets. Most of these exoplanets have no proper names. An initiative by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), NameExoWorlds offers the opportunity for all countries in the world including Brunei Darussalam to give a name to one exoplanet and its hosting star. Names will be chosen by public voting carried out in each country. The chosen names will be recognized by IAU as official names. A national committee for Brunei Darussalam will organize this campaign from August 2019 onwards.

Objectives

To provide opportunity for people of Brunei Darussalam to name exoplanet and its star.
To raise public awareness on the existence of the planetary system outside our solar system.
To promote astronomy especially Islamic astronomy (Falak Syarie) and space science in Brunei Darussalam.

NameExoWorldBN (Bahasa Melayu)Download

Shortlisted NameExoWorlds Brunei Darussalam proposals:

	Star HD 179949	Exoplanet HD 179949b	Theme
a.	Arik	Rinut	Call; Act
b.	Arkat	Kandila	Perpetual
c.	Ginis	Cikar	Beauty
d.	Gumala	Mastika	Gemstone
e.	Kalapmalip	Diyan	Luminous
f.	Lantira	Kulimpapat	Light
g.	Maya	Berawa	Place
h.	Nulus	Liun	Discover; Revolve
i.	Semaun	Sangkuna	Warrior
j.	Surapit	Petabu	Fruit

Assigned Planetary System for Brunei Darussalam

Size comparison bertween HD 179949 and the Sun (source: NASA)

Star Identification: HD 179949

Type: yellow-white, dwarf
Constellation: Sagittarius
Brightness: 6.25 magnitude
Surface Temperature: 6250 K (500 degrees hotter than the Sun)
Mass: 1.25 x sun
Distance from the Earth: 88 Light Years (8.3254 x 1014 km)
Spectral Class: F8 V

Description: HD 179949 is a sixth magnitude (6.25) class F8 dwarf star in Sagittarius. From a distance of 88 light years, it shines with a huminosity 1.8 times that of the Sun from a surface with a temperature of 6250 Kelvin, almost 500 degrees hotter tn the Sun. From these values, we infer a radius 1.16 times solar, a mass 1.25 solar, and that the star is very young. Like most planet-holding stars, it is metal-rich, with an iron content (relative to hydrogen) that is 65 percent greater than the Sun.

Size comparison between HD 179949b and the Earth (source: NASA)

ExoPlanet Identification: HD 179949 b

Planet Type: Gas Giant
Discovery date: 2000
Mass: 0.916 Jupiter
Planet radius: 1.24 x Jupiter (estimate)
Orbital Radius: 0.0443 AU
Orbital period: 3.1 days
Detection Method: Radial Velocity

Description: HD 179949 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a F-type star. Its mass is 0.916 Jupiters, it takes 3.1 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.0443 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2000.

You can find more information on the Planetary System here.