Banksia
Banksia is an IAU name for an exoplanet. Its host star is Wattle in the constellation of Vela. Suggested by the country of Australia, it follows the name theme Names of native flora of Australia of cultural significance, whose characteristics allude to the properties of the celestial objects.
Etymology and History
Banksia is a genus of Australian wildflowers and garden plants. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Indigenous people of Australia, have used Banksia for medicine, straining water, and as a nectar source to make sweet drinks. The red flowers of the scarlet banksia (Banksia coccinea), and dried banksia flower cones are used as firebrands by Indigenous peoples and allude to the glow of the hot dayside of the giant planet WASP-19b.
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was adopted by the IAU WGSN in the 20xx NameExoWorlds Campaign (NEWC).
Weblinks
- Website of the IAU WGSN: https://exopla.net/
