Most Distant Object in Space Explored Recently Named
The 2014 MU69 is no longer the most distant object ever explored with a name. Drawing inspiration from the Powhatan community, the 34-kilometer body discovered on January 1, 2019, has been officially named the Arrokoth. The body, visited by the New Horizon run by NASA, has been named Arrokoth, a term meaning sky, mission officials said. According to Alan Stern from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Colorado, the name Arrokoth reflects the wonder of space and how the skies and the stars are an inspiration to many. He added that the team is determined to learn as much as they can in the mission and that they are honored to celebrate the discovery with the Powhatan tribe and the entire community of Maryland. The New Horizon is deeply rooted in the community, just as much as the Powhatan people. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory based in Laurel, Maryland, runs the mission. The Arrokoth was also discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope, wh...