The award was established by the Club of Scientific Journalists in 1996 and has been granted annually to recognise scientists for their efforts to popularise science.

The first recipient in 1998 was professor of physics Károly Simonyi, father of Hungarian-born American computer programmer Charles Simonyi.

Other past recipients include immunologist András Falus, neurobiologist Tamás Freund and ethologist Vilmos Csányi. Between 1998 and 2010, stars discovered by Hungarians were named af ter the recipients and since 2010, asteroids.

Academy member László L Kiss told MTI that those who discover stars and asteroids have the right to name them, so whenever a recipient for the award is selected, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is contacted with the request.

The naming of the Vizi asteroid became official on December 19 after the IAU’s publication of newly named asteroids on Monday, Kiss said.

It had been discovered by Krisztián Sárneczky, an employee of the MTA’s Konkoly Thege Miklós Astronomical Institute.

“It is no accident that this asteroid was picked to be named after Szilveszter E Vizi, considering that I first saw it on December 31, 2008, the night of Sylvester,” Sárneczky said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt