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'Star Trek's' Mr. Sulu Rates Heavenly Body

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By SAMANTHA GROSS, The Associated Press

Published: October 5, 2007

NEW YORK - A piece of outer space named for George Takei is in kind of a rough neighborhood for somebody who steers a starship: an asteroid belt.

An asteroid between Mars and Jupiter has been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of the actor, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the original 'Star Trek' series and movies.

'I am now a heavenly body,' Takei, 70, said Tuesday, laughing. 'I found out about it yesterday. ... I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky - just like an asteroid.'

The celestial rock, discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994, was formerly known as 1994 GT9.

It joins the 4659 Roddenberry (named for the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry) and the 68410 Nichols (for co-star Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura).

The renaming of 7307 Takei was approved by the International Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature.

'This is the name that will be used for all eternity,' said Tom Burbine, a Mount Holyoke College astronomy professor who proposed the name.

Takei appeared on NBC's 'Heroes' and appears regularly on Howard Stern's satellite radio show.

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