Asteroid Named in Honor of SETI Researcher and Communicator Seth Shostak

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially named Asteroid 2006 BT282 as Asteroid Shostak, honoring Dr. Seth Shostak for his contributions to astronomy and science communication.

The official citation reads:
“Dr. Seth Shostak (b. 1943) is an American astronomer and Senior Scientist at the SETI Institute. He is recognized for his work using radio telescopes in the search for evidence for extraterrestrial life, and for his many decades of skillful and wide-ranging public outreach through books, articles, films, talks, media interviews, and his national radio program.”

Asteroid Shostak resides in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and completes an orbit around the Sun every 3.6 years.

Dr. Shostak has spent more than four decades advancing the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, with a particular focus on radio astronomy and observational strategies. He joined the SETI Institute in its early years and has been a leading voice in both its research and public engagement.

Co-hosting the nationally celebrated radio program Big Picture Science and authoring numerous influential books and textbooks, Dr. Shostak has reached audiences worldwide. His appearances in hundreds of documentaries, interviews, and radio programs have inspired curiosity and wonder, distilling the universe's story with clarity, humor, puns and an unwavering enthusiasm that sparks excitement in all who listen.

At "SethFest," a special event organized by the SETI Institute to celebrate Dr. Shostak’s decades-long impact on science and outreach, astronomer and educator Andrew Fraknoi reflected on Shostak’s impact:

“As Voltaire once wrote about another figure concerned with the heavens, if Seth Shostak did not exist, it would have been necessary to invent him. It’s impossible to imagine the last 40 years of SETI and science popularization without Seth. There’s his groundbreaking research in the SETI arena and his many published papers—but even more people know him through his and Molly’s national radio show, his countless media appearances, public lectures, and popular books. Above all, it’s his tireless willingness to explain our science clearly and credibly for reporters, educators, and the public that has made Seth an indispensable resource for the public understanding of science.”

A certificate detailing the asteroid’s orbital parameters was presented to Dr. Shostak during the event, which fittingly began, as Fraknoi quipped, “with a big bang.”