Ever Wondered How Asteroids Get Their Names?

Ever Wondered How Asteroids Get Their Names?

Author: Houston Museum of Natural Science September 9, 2025 Duration: 48:15
Have you ever noticed asteroid names and wondered how they came to be? Let's go to the HMNS George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park and talk to astronomer Tracy Knauss to learn all about it...and much more!

George Observatory
https://george.hmns.org/

More about our 36 inch scope
https://youtu.be/hz2-GgX9omg?si=Y5-Xbp6qORNLA8Tk

George VLOG
https://youtu.be/e9pXhaA0q8A?si=elZTB-o9GgLIQBM1

Tracy's Asteroid
https://fbac.org/2025/08/21/tracy-knauss-asteroid/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
0:54 Tracy's Asteroid
4:09 What do the label numbers mean?
8:05 Who can find asteroids? 
13:47 More about Tracy's asteroid 
18:58 Has the George Observatory found asteroids?
20:34 Addressing light pollution
25:29 Venus is cool
27:28 Do you need expensive equipment for viewing/astrophotography?
35:14 Sometimes you don't need anything at all
36:57 History of 36-inch scope & George Observatory
41:23 Importance of optics
44:50 More 36-inch scope facts

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

The HMNS Beyond Bones Podcast from the Houston Museum of Natural Science is an invitation to explore the vast and curious collection of over 2.5 million artifacts. This isn't just a tour of exhibits; it's a deep dive into the narratives embedded in everything from imposing dinosaur fossils to the minute beauty of a butterfly's wing. Each episode uses a specific object or a listener's question as a starting point, unraveling tales of natural history, scientific discovery, and human culture. You'll hear from the experts and curators who care for these treasures, gaining insights that connect a single, intricately carved seashell to broader themes in our world. The conversations in this podcast naturally extend beyond the museum's walls, examining how science intersects with our daily lives and shared history. It’s for anyone with a lingering question about how the world works or a simple wonder about the stories waiting inside a museum drawer. Tune in for a thoughtful and accessible blend of science, culture, and education, all sparked by the real objects housed in Houston.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 38

HMNS Beyond Bones Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Dinosaur Conspiracies & Misconceptions with James Washington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
Who is allowed to dig for fossils? What do you do with fossils that are found? Why don't I find fossils in my yard? Are fossils a hoax? Are fossils radioactive?James Washington and "Mental Curator" Johnny Hemberger discu…
Killer Asteroids & Planetary Ponderings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
HMNS Curator of Astronomy, Dr. Carolyn Sumners joins "Mental Curator" Johnny Hemberger to discuss the likelihood of asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting Earth in 2032, the upcoming lunar eclipse, the "planetary parade", our MA2 M…
Fossil Preparation, "From the Grave to the Cradle" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:15
In this episode of the HMNS Beyond Bones Podcast, we discuss and show you how a fossil comes out of the actual dirt to be prepared and displayed in such a breathtaking manor.Video versionhttps://youtu.be/hm8wk950Exs0:00…
How dinosaur diseases make them more real and relatable. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:40
Unfortunately, a lot of us have suffered through the agony of disease either in ourlselves, in those we care about, or in our beloved pets. Yet, in a meaningul way, it is this suffering that can make extinct creatures, l…
What can modern animals teach us about extinct dinosaurs? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:12
Is it scientifically feasible to hypothesize about the behaviors and habits of extinct animals based on the behaviors of modern animals? I sit down with our Paleontology Lab Manager, Collin Diggins (and special guest) to…
What are Plasma Balls/Globes and How do they work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
Plasma Balls! We've all played with them. A lot of us have them somewhere in our home. But who invented them? When were they invented? And how do they work?Email: Podcasts@hmns.orgHMNS Sugar Landhttps://sugarland.hmns.or…
Digging for Dinosaur Fossils in the Breathtaking U.S. Badlands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:03
Dinosaur fossil hunting in the wild west Badlands of Wyoming, USA. Come along as we bask in the enormity of an infinitely breathtaking landscape...and bring our nose down to the very dirt in the nursery of eons. From the…