The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is holding a competition to name 20 exoplanetary systems that will be observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Name ExoWorlds 2022 is a competition that aims to bring together professional astronomers and the general public to name 20 selected exoplanets and their host stars.
To name an exoplanet and its star, participants must form a team comprised of students and teachers, astronomy enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and professional astronomers.
Teams should select a target system, brainstorm ideas, and then propose names for the planet and host star, as well as an explanation of the cultural context for the suggestion.
Proposals must be submitted in both written and video form. Teams will also be assisted by IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs).
A two-step selection process will be used to evaluate the proposals. First, a national selection panel led by NOCs will choose one national candidate and two backup candidates.
The candidates proposed by each country will then be considered by a final selection committee, which will choose a name for each Exo World.
It's exciting to see a new Name Exo Worlds competition underway to commemorate the Office for Astronomy Outreach's tenth anniversary.
The IAU has previously organised a number of Name Exo Worlds initiatives with the goal of emphasising the significance of the connections between the sky and our diverse cultures.
The inclusion of early JWST targets in this year's edition is notable.