Mayor Proclaims July 6, 2021 “Asteroid (123794) Deadwood Day”

Image from JPL. View the orbit at https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=123794&view=VOPDC

Badlands Observatory participated in the search for Near Earth Objects for almost 10 years. While performing followup astrometry, 25 main belt asteroids were discovered which were credited to Ron Dyvig and Badlands Observatory.

Discoverers of asteroids have the privilege of recommending a name for them to the Minor Planet Center. During a visit with his former high school classmates, the idea of naming an asteroid after the City of Deadwood, South Dakota was suggested.

On July 8, 2021, Ron presented a plaque to the City of Deadwood Commissioners commemorating the naming of Asteroid 123794 Deadwood.

On April 29, 2002 a similar plaque was presented to former Governor William Janklow to commemorate the naming of Asteroid 26715 South Dakota, also discovered at Badlands Observatory.

Ron Dyvig - Badlands Observatory; Governor William Janklow; Dr. Sherry Farwell and Tom Durkin -South Dakota Space Grant Consortium