Asteroid 861969 Elliottsmith Named After Elliott Smith

More than two decades after his death, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith has been honored with an asteroid bearing his name. The International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature has officially designated a minor planet discovered in 2014 as 861969 Elliottsmith.

The tribute was initiated by Edinburgh-based independent filmmaker Orlando Campopiano. He conceived the idea while listening to Smith's song "Shooting Star" from the posthumous 2004 album "From a Basement on the Hill." Campopiano then collaborated with Smith's estate to submit a formal naming proposal, which was recently approved by the international governing body.

The asteroid's numerical designation, 861969, directly references Smith's birth date: August 6, 1969. Smith, born Steven Paul Smith, was 34 when he died in October 2003.

In a statement, Campopiano expressed his hope that the celestial honor would introduce new listeners to Smith's work and provide a permanent legacy. He also noted it was a great honor to have the tribute blessed by the estate and the asteroid's discoverers. An official citation confirming the naming was published in the IAU's bulletin.