Asteroid Named After Leilani Estates | Honolulu News

An amateur astronomer named Todd Fisher has discovered a new asteroid and named it after Leilani Estates, the Hawaiian community devastated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Inspired by his sister’s loss and the resilience of the locals, Fisher chose the name for its poetic Hawaiian meaning—“garland of heaven”—perfect for a celestial body. Using citizen science tools that analyze Subaru Telescope archives, he spends evenings hunting for moving objects against fixed stars, a relaxing yet meaningful hobby. This is his first newly discovered asteroid since starting in 2023, and he’s urging others to join the effort, highlighting how pattern recognition and accessible resources can turn anyone into a space explorer. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f902c7527857b8b0