Some Git Named An Asteroid After His Cat Mr Spock
Category: Outer Space 7th May 2026
Right, listen to this. Out in space there is a lump of rock with the official tag 2309 Mr Spock. Not a sci-fi tribute, not a publicity stunt. It is literally named after a cat called Mr Spock. I mean, who does that? Who grows up and thinks, "One day I'll give my tabby immortality by sticking his name on a hunk of space"?
Facts first: astronomers who discover asteroids get to suggest names. The suggestions are checked and then accepted by the official body - so it is all proper paperwork, not some drunk moment at a pub. Sometimes they go for poets or heroes. Sometimes they pick family, or places, or bits of nonsense. In this case someone put forward "Mr Spock" and it stuck. The name is on the charts, and the rock answers to it forever. Forever. Imagine that, your cat outlasting your telly and your telly outlasting you.
People assumed it was for the Star Trek character. That seemed sensible. But the record is picky: it says the namesake was a domestic cat. So yeah, the universe is now keeping the memory of a moggy. If you think about it, it is perfect. Cats already act like they own everything on Earth. Why not the bits beyond?
I remember years ago someone I knew tried to name a garden gnome after his missus and the neighbours complained like it was a scandal. Meanwhile, out in the void, we have a celestial body with a name chosen by someone who liked their cat. The scales of sensibility are all out of whack.
It is daft and brilliant in equal measure. There is something comforting about human silliness being writ on the heavens. While philosophers argue, while politicians squabble, some bloke's moggy gets a cosmic headstone. Makes you think. Then again, I've seen telly presenters do worse for a laugh. At least the cat's got a nicer future than most celebrities.