Jerusalem Among the Stars

The arrow points to Jerusalem


A minor planet in the belt between Mars and Jupiter has been named Jerusalem. Dr. Michal Kocer and his wife Martina from the Klet Observatory in the Czech Republic discovered it in December 2000 and requested it be named after Jerusalem. The International Astronomical Union gave approval for the name.

In a letter addressed to Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, to which they attached a certificate of authenticity along with an orbit diagram, the Kocers explained that their decision was meant to express "our blessings for the city of peace, the most beautiful city we've ever been to."

In reply, Lupolianski thanked the Kocers for the gesture, adding poetically: "The light of this star will not fade, just as the star of the city of Jerusalem has continued to sparkle for thousands of years among the Jewish people and across the world." Jerusalem Post