A minor planet, 4538 Vishyanand has been named after Indian Chess Grand-master Viswanthan Anand on 1st April by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Viswanathan Anand was residing at home and got some congratulatory messages on 1st April that a minor planet that was unnamed for 10 years has got his name. At first is thought that it was an April fool prank on him.
But it was not when he checked the official website of NASA. He was completely in extreme happiness and the messages that he got are fairly real.
Now there is planet named, “4538 Vishyanand” after the name of Viswanthan Anand.
The Minor Planet Center will be operated at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) under the auspices of Division F (formerly Division III) of the IAU.
Michael Rudenko, a staff member of the Minor Planet Center and a chess buff named this minor planet that is being unnamed for long period of ten years. This planet is located in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
On this regard, Rudenko spoke few words like this, “The idea of naming a minor planet after Anand was entirely my own. After careful consideration I selected him because in addition to being a great chess player, he is also a gentleman and an astronomy enthusiast”.
Viswananthan is also happy and could have endless amusement for the development and reputation he got from the Space. He told that his wife, Aruna always jokes that he seems to come from some other planet and it came true now with this incident, he laughed and said these words to the reporters.