From the Facebook page of Ateneo de Davao University
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 06 July) – An asteroid from the main belt of the solar system was named after a robotics engineering student of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU).
In a post on social media, the official name of the asteroid would be “34044 Obafial,” which is taken from the last name of Nadine Antonette Obafial, a fourth-year Robotics Engineering student in ADDU.
Asteroid 34044 Obafial (formerly asteroid 2000 OZ31) was discovered on July 30, 2020.
The university said that Obafial was one of the 12 Filipinos whose names were used to name asteroids to honor their contributions and achievements in science and technology in the Philippines.
According to ADDU, Obafial and her team joined the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2017, where they won second place for a plant sciences team project.
Asteroids “34047 Gloria” and “34049 Myrelleangela” were also named in honor of Obafial’s teammates, Rubeliene Chezka Fernandez Gloria and Myrelle Angela Colas.
“The team’s outstanding plant science project proved that the Acacia bark extract was an effective organic insecticide against an adult black rice bug. Her team’s exceptional science investigatory project significantly contributed to the country’s scientific development,” it added.
Other asteroids named after Filipinos are 6282 Edwelda, 6636 Kintanar, 4866 Badillo, 30100 Christophergo, 7431 Jettaguilar, 34522 Cadores, 34524 Eugenerivera, and 34523 Manzanero. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
