Rules for asteroid naming
We suggest you propose a name with African connections. Any South African official languages are acceptable.
(1) Only young people, 18 or under, living in South Africa are eligible to enter.
(2) Each individual or group can propose only one name. [Note that indiviuals are allowed to also submit names as a group member.]
(3) Please take the International Astronomical Union (IAU) rules into account. The winning name must be approved by the IAU in order to become official. The IAU rules for naming a minor planet are as follows (from http://www.iau.org/public_press/themes/naming/):
• 16 characters or less in length
• preferably one word
• pronounceable (in some language)
• non-offensive
• not too similar to an existing name of a Minor Planet or natural Planetary satellite. Lists of existing names are at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/lists/MPNames.html
• The names of individuals or events principally known for political or military activities are unsuitable until 100 years after the death of the individual or the occurrence of the event.
• names of pet animals are discouraged
• names of a purely or principally commercial nature are not allowed