Asteroid Named after Christopher Hitchens

[Lost-in-FL]

An asteroid discovered by Ted Bowell, the former director of the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search, has been named after Vanity Fair contributing editor Christopher Hitchens. The asteroid orbits Mars, Jupiter, and Earth.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/12/Asteroid-Named-for-Christopher-Hitchens

[rpannier]

1. Interesting choice

The article didn't say if the the the asteroid was arrogant, whined and often called people stupid.

Thanks for sharing though.
I did find it interesting
Thanks again
:fistbump: :hi:

[RZM]

2. Is it made of scotch? n/t

[mojowork_n]

3. So, what are the chances that

the asteroid, "Christopher Hitchens" will someday penetrate the atmosphere, plow
through the planet's crust, and end all life on earth, as we know it?

[Historic NY]

4. Its a fitting honor for him, he is ailing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2047572/Christopher-Hitchens-says-time-coming-atheist-conference-Texas.html

[Electric Monk]

6. Hmm, thanks. I hadn't heard that news yet. That's a rough way to go.

"he once said he could 'drink enough every day to kill or stun the average mule'."

I suspect there's a connection. I lost an aunt for the same reason, when she was roughly the same age.

[Whisp]

7. He is loathed by many

and there have been things he has said that made me want to throw my coffee cup at him, but he was an amazing intellect and I enjoy reading some of his marvelous words.

I don't know of any other disease that people make fun of when someone is dying. Too sad.

From that link:
'I think being an atheist is something you are, not something you do,' he told the New York Times.

'I'm not sure we need to be honoured. We don't need positive reinforcement.

'On the other hand, we do need to stick up for ourselves, especially in a place like Texas, where they have laws, I think, that if you don't believe in Jesus Christ you can't run for sheriff.'
Dawkins praised him for showing his atheist determination even in the face of death and said he had disproved the saying that there are 'no atheists in foxholes'.

[provis99]

5. Why?

is the asteroid also a foul-mouthed boor who's dying of his alcoholism?

[eShirl]

8. He's dying of cancer. n/t

[provis99]

10. he's dying of esophagal cancer because he's a drunk.

[Pezzab5]

11. Why

Crass, infantile and oh so cheap

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. "The asteroid orbits Mars, Jupiter, and Earth" Really?

If so, it's the most unusual asteroid ever found. I didn't think we had a single example of seeing an asteroid captured from the influence of one planet by another, let alone 2.

I think the writer does not know much about asteroids.