“Weird Al”Yankovic has officially been immortalized in the solar system. The International Astronomical Union approved the name (14331) Alyankovic for an asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, and the citation credits his comedic songs with inspiring generations of scientists. The rock is about 1.5 to 2 kilometers wide, takes 3.77 Earth years to orbit the Sun, and was discovered back in 1981 by Stephen J. Bus at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.
The nomination came from NASA-affiliated planetary scientist Dr. Allison McGraw and Arizona State University professor Dr. Steve Desch. Their citation praises Yankovic for sparking curiosity, creativity, lifelong learning, and joy in discovering how the world works. In other words,“White and Nerdy”and“It’s All About the Pentiums”did real work for science recruitment over the years.
Yankovic responded by calling it perhaps the greatest honor he’s ever received, then joking that he hopes it isn’t the asteroid that winds up destroying the earth. That’s peak Weird Al. It also caps off a massive 2026 for him, with a tour, a vinyl release, and a Broadway musical all in play. So which celebrity deserves the next asteroid, and what would you name it? Drop your picks in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.