Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy immortalized as asteroid

It is both fascinating – and logical. The late Leonard Nimoy, best known for portraying the Vulcan Mr. Spock on Star Trek, is immortalized among the stars, with an asteroid named after him.

Asteroid 4864, which was discovered Sept. 2, 1988, was named Nimoy by the Minor Planet Center last June 2, and Trekkers with telescopes could get a glimpse of it as early as mid-July.

Asteroid 4864 Nimoy has been named in honor of Leonard Nimoy. @TheRealNimoy @WilliamShatner pic.twitter.com/mVn6Fhz6qw

— Ron Baalke (@RonBaalke) June 4, 2015

"Leonard Nimoy (1931–2015) was an American actor, film director and poet. Best known for his portrayal of the half-Vulcan/half-human science officer Spock in the original 'Star Trek' TV series and subsequent movies, Nimoy wrote two autobiographies: I Am Not Spock (1975) and I Am Spock (1995)," it said.

Nimoy played Spock, a Vulcan officer known for his cold logical exterior that hides his human nature. He would on occasion raise an eyebrow and remark, "Fascinating."

Nimoy died last February at age 83.

An article on Universe Today said sky watchers could get a gkimpse of the asteroid as early as mid-July.

"Come mid-July, amateurs with 14-inch or larger telescopes might glimpse it [asteroid Nimoy] when it brightens to magnitude 15," it said.

Also, it said 4864 Nimoy is a mountain-sized rock about 10 km across, and orbits the Sun once every 3.9 years, "within the inner part of the main asteroid belt" between Mars and Jupiter.

Belgian astronomer Henri Debehogne discovered the asteriod on September 2, 1988. The asteroid at the time was designated 1988 RA5. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News