Asteroid named after Louis Braille!
In 1999 the Planetary Society named an asteroid after Louis Braille, the inventer of the magic Braille system. kerry babcock, at this time worked as a software engeneer at the kenedy space center, suggested this name to the society's asteroid international name contest. Asteroid Braille, old name Asteroid KD 1992, was discovered on May, 27th, 1992 by the astronomers Ms. Eleanor helin and kenneth lawrence at the palomar observatory, st. diego, california. During Nasa's Deep Space 1 observing program Asteroid Braille became a main target to observe by the spacecraft on July, 29th in 1999.
At the annual meeting of WBU's North American/Caribean region between September, 29th and October, 1st, 1999, at the Library Of Congress in Washincton, a comemorative plaque for naming asteroid braille was presented. euclid herie, former President of the WBu between 1996 and 2000, said during this meeting: "The World Blind Union is particularly pleased that the International Astronomical Union approved naming this new asteroid in honor of Louis Braille. Continuing world recognition of the importance of braille for blind individuals has been one of the World Blind Union's missions. This plaque will reside in the national libraries of the members of the North America/ Caribbean region of the World Blind Union. It will be a reminder to the people of the world of the importance of braille to blind individuals."
Moreover Ms. Helin, one of asteroid Braille's discoverer in 1992, stated: " Inventions are the products of the human mind. It is particularly appropriate to honor Braille and his invention of a means of communication with the minds of humans who are otherwise limited in their ability to 'see' the
outside world. Spacecraft such as Deep Space 1, in their own way, also provide a
means for humans to 'see' other worlds.".