A University of Georgia sophomore has won a naming contest for a quasi-moon, an asteroid that temporarily orbits Earth but actually orbits the sun. The name “Cardea” was chosen from thousands of submissions from around the world and is based on the Roman goddess of doorways and transitions. Quasi-moons are rare celestial bodies that create the illusion of being moons, with some lasting for hundreds or thousands of years.
The winner, Clayton Chilcutt, chose his name after discovering it in a description of the quasi-moon’s properties. The contest received submissions from over 90 countries and was judged by notable scientists and celebrities including Bill Nye and Penn Badgley.
Source: https://www.redandblack.com/uganews/uga-student-wins-global-quasi-moon-naming-contest/article_5ac14a40-d20e-11ef-b6c5-bfeb85d7f9d3.html