News for 'minor planets'

NASA names 'minor' planet after Indian

NASA names 'minor' planet after Indian

Rediff.com1 May 2008

Sainudeen Pattazhy, who teaches in a local college, was informed on Wednesday by Jet Propulsions Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology under NASA that minor planet '5178 No CD4' had been named after him. The planet was discovered by US-based scientist Rajmohan in 1989, Sainudeen said.

8 Asteroids That Gave Earth A Near Miss

8 Asteroids That Gave Earth A Near Miss

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

You may not know that nearly every year a handful of asteroids skim past Earth at distances that are startlingly close in astronomical terms.

Gulf nations must pay for Hormuz security: Trump

Gulf nations must pay for Hormuz security: Trump

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

Former US President Donald Trump stated that Gulf nations should reimburse the United States for safeguarding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while asserting that recent American military interventions have profoundly crippled Iran's military capabilities, claiming Iran has been "brought back to the Stone Ages."

Disclosure Day Review: Close Encounters of The Tiresome Kind

Disclosure Day Review: Close Encounters of The Tiresome Kind

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

Steven Spielberg's latest sci-fi offering Disclosure Day attempts to blend political thriller elements with an alien narrative, but despite strong performances and moments of suspense, it ultimately leaves viewers with too many unanswered questions and a somewhat unearned climax laments Sreeju Sudhakaran.

Want To Own Ultra-Exclusive Cars?

Want To Own Ultra-Exclusive Cars?

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

'I own a few cars that I have had specified minutely to my taste, and it does feel nice to know that there are no other vehicles like them anywhere in the world.'

'Racist trash': Trump slammed for 'hellhole' remark targeting India

'Racist trash': Trump slammed for 'hellhole' remark targeting India

Rediff.com24 Apr 2026

Democrat leaders have criticised US President Donald Trump for referring to India and other countries as 'hellholes', accusing him of amplifying 'racist trash' on social media.

Middle East conflict: Telangana man hurt in attack near Abu Dhabi airport

Middle East conflict: Telangana man hurt in attack near Abu Dhabi airport

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

Rao, who works in the housekeeping section at the airport, informed his parents that he and several others escaped with minor injuries.

Is The Dubai Dream Over?

Is The Dubai Dream Over?

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

Dubai's core promise -- that it is an oasis untouched by regional storms -- has been tested in full public view. The coming months will show whether investors view the attacks as a short-lived disruption or a deeper signal of lasting risk, points out Asif Ullah Khan.

10 Most Powerful Passports. And India...

10 Most Powerful Passports. And India...

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Henley Passport Index 2026 has once again ranked Singapore as the passport offering its people access to the most countries and therefore near-seamless travel accross the planet.

These boys have planets named after them

These boys have planets named after them

Rediff.com29 Jul 2010

Meet Anish Mukherjee and Debarghya Sarkar whose bottle cap project has earned them the honour of having two minor planets named after them. They talk about coping with studies and what drives them to excel.

Coimbatore girls have planets named after them

Coimbatore girls have planets named after them

Rediff.com17 Jun 2005

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has named two minor planets after two girls from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Is Pluto a planet or not? Debate rages on

Is Pluto a planet or not? Debate rages on

Rediff.com1 Oct 2018

After stripping Pluto of planet status in 2006, some astronomers want to reclassify it once again, says Devangshu Datta.

Entrance Exams Destroy Talent: Agree?

Entrance Exams Destroy Talent: Agree?

Rediff.com25 Sep 2025

'India kills its own talent before the world even gets to see it'

Why So Much Hatred For English?

Why So Much Hatred For English?

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

There is no guarantee that if we speak in only Indian languages, all our faults will be washed away and India will shine. Why then do they bully and belittle the English-speaking? asks Shyam G Menon.

Leaders, Heed The 11-Year Rule!

Leaders, Heed The 11-Year Rule!

Rediff.com20 Mar 2025

There is a reason this 11 year phenomenon is a rule as much as it is an observation. It speaks to the nature of man and what humans are like, explains Aakar Patel.

We Are In An Era Of Puppets And Puppeteers

We Are In An Era Of Puppets And Puppeteers

Rediff.com31 Dec 2024

'As we enter 2025, it must be acknowledged that there is a convergence of capital, influential people (from business and politics) and technology deciding the destiny of others in the name of pride, patriotism, nationalism, nation building, all of it thinly veiled disguises for personal profit and glory,' asserts Shyam G Menon.

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

ISRO, NASA in talks to place Indian on ISS next year

Rediff.com8 Sep 2023

India and the US on Friday said they have started talks to put in place a strategic framework for human space flight by year-end as they plan to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024.

'Central BJP Is Ignorant Of Kerala Politics'

'Central BJP Is Ignorant Of Kerala Politics'

Rediff.com18 Nov 2024

'The Kerala BJP leadership is doing the job of clerical staff. What the boss orders, they just follow them.'

Why a planet was named after Sahithi Pingali

Why a planet was named after Sahithi Pingali

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

Nikita Puri introduces the Indian teenager who has joined the league of innovators with celestial bodies named after them.

Can Earth Avoid Killer Space Rocks?

Can Earth Avoid Killer Space Rocks?

Rediff.com20 Jan 2022

Stephen Hawking, in his final book Brief Answers to the Big Questions, considered an asteroid collision to be the biggest threat to the planet. At this point, we are as well prepared as dinosaurs were when a 10-km wide asteroid hit the planet 65 million years ago, notes Kumar Abishek.

Make 'Women's Safety' The Reason Why You Vote Next

Make 'Women's Safety' The Reason Why You Vote Next

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

'Days ago, India witnessed the horror of the brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor on night duty at the R G Kar hospital in Kolkata.' 'The crime was so outrageous that any self-respecting chief minister should have resigned, bearing moral responsibility.' 'But then the terms 'self-respect' and 'moral responsibility' do not exist in the modern Indian political lexicon,' argues Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

MS outage: Airlines go manual, cash withdrawals hit, brokerages affected

MS outage: Airlines go manual, cash withdrawals hit, brokerages affected

Rediff.com19 Jul 2024

Airports across the country witnessed chaotic scenes on Friday after dozens of flights were either delayed or cancelled after a widespread global computer outage that also hit operations like cash withdrawal at some banks, and impacted functioning of some brokerages. Globally, the Microsoft cloud outage led to US airlines cancelling flights, but the tech giant later reportedly said its cloud services outage in the Central US region has been resolved.

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Has Modi Learnt Nothing From Election Result?

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

On June 26, for the likes of me, the music died. Any impression of potential change held forth by the outcome of the 2024 general election, was vaporised, reveals Shyam G Menon.

Ice or alien life? 2 bright spots on Ceres baffle scientists

Ice or alien life? 2 bright spots on Ceres baffle scientists

Rediff.com12 May 2015

Ice? Volcano? Or Alien life? The discovery of two bright spots on Ceres -- the dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that happens to be the largest body in that asteroid belt -- has baffled scientists and space enthusiasts.

Reach out to Muslims without expecting votes: Modi to BJP

Reach out to Muslims without expecting votes: Modi to BJP

Rediff.com17 Jan 2023

In his valedictory address at the two-day National Executive meeting of the BJP in the national capital on Tuesday, Modi spoke about areas where the party needs to be strengthened ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Archies Review: Return To Innocence

The Archies Review: Return To Innocence

Rediff.com7 Dec 2023

The Archies is an evergreen thought passed on from generation to generation. But Sukanya Verma wishes it had some of the comic's tee-hee humour and hyuk hyuk too.

Looking At 1999: 25 Years Ago In Bollywood...

Looking At 1999: 25 Years Ago In Bollywood...

Rediff.com12 Mar 2024

Sukanya Verma recaps all those events from 25 years ago.

Indian democracy's collapse will impact world, Rahul Gandhi tells US media

Indian democracy's collapse will impact world, Rahul Gandhi tells US media

Rediff.com2 Jun 2023

Asserting that Indian democracy is a "global public good", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that its "collapse" will have an impact on the world and is not in America's national interest.

Pandit Jasraj: Indian classical music's greatest voice

Pandit Jasraj: Indian classical music's greatest voice

Rediff.com17 Aug 2020

Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri, Pandit Jasraj also popularised semi-classical music like 'haveli sangeet' and reached out to devotees with his 'bhajans', a particular favourite for his fans being "Om Namo Bhagavate" in praise of Lord Krishna.

With Pandit Jasraj's passing, heaven has become richer

With Pandit Jasraj's passing, heaven has become richer

Rediff.com18 Aug 2020

The mesmerising and familiar image of Pandit Jasraj saying 'Jai Ho' and then raising his hands to mark the beginning of his performances will now remain only in the fond memories of thousands of Jasraj's fans and followers across the globe, remembers Ankur Biplav.

'COVID-19 is a man made pandemic'

'COVID-19 is a man made pandemic'

Rediff.com6 Jun 2020

'Wild animals lived in their natural environment.' 'So, viruses could not be communicated.' 'Then came mass production and mass quartering of animals -- whether it be poultry, pigs and cattle -- which gave rise to bird flu, SARS and the mad cow disease.' 'Vast amounts of animal produce are also being flown from one part of the world to another, which has helped to spread the virus.' 'All these changes have led to a new and deadly mutation of the virus that has immobliised human beings.'

SEE: Stranded honeymooners end up as Olympic ambassadors

SEE: Stranded honeymooners end up as Olympic ambassadors

Rediff.com13 Aug 2020

Unable to resume their journey to Europe and then home to Japan and unwilling to head to the African mainland, where virus cases are spiking, they had to trade their skills with domestic businesses to earn funds in the absence of work visas.

How India's military strength grew in 2022

How India's military strength grew in 2022

Rediff.com1 Jan 2023

The Indian troops guarding the nearly 3,500-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) maintained an assertive approach in sync with the broader national security doctrine and procured a variety of military platforms and weapons to enhance their combat capabilities.

Best day of my life: Ecstatic Chelsea fans celebrate

Best day of my life: Ecstatic Chelsea fans celebrate

Rediff.com30 May 2021

Some 16,500 fans were allowed into the stadium but many others travelled to the Portuguese city of Porto to support their teams from the sidelines.

No country must take advantage of Afghan situation: PM @ UNGA

No country must take advantage of Afghan situation: PM @ UNGA

Rediff.com25 Sep 2021

Addressing the 76th UNGA session in New York, Modi called for ensuring that no country 'tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests'.

The Kerala You Should Discover

The Kerala You Should Discover

Rediff.com3 Aug 2022

Kerala will be one of those places where the line between tourism, a land, a people and their way of life will blur. It won't be tourism; it will be a visit to experience Kerala.

Aishwarya does have a beautiful life!

Aishwarya does have a beautiful life!

Rediff.com1 Nov 2020

'Being Aishwarya Rai Bachchan comes with a price.' 'There will always be those who think her ideal life is a fake. 'To them I say, damn your cynicism!,' says Subhash K Jha.

Climate Crisis Presents Opportunity For India

Climate Crisis Presents Opportunity For India

Rediff.com3 Nov 2021

India's negotiating posture at the multilateral negotiations should be aligned with a significantly transformed development strategy domestically.' 'The positions the country takes at the negotiations will then carry credibility, says Shyam Saran, former foreign secretary and India's chief negotiator on Climate Change 2007-2010.

Ramzan moon sighted, fasting begins from today

Ramzan moon sighted, fasting begins from today

Rediff.com25 Apr 2020

Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari and Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri mosque Mufti Mukarram Ahmed also said the moon was sighted and the fasting will start from Saturday. They appealed to Muslims to perform all rituals and prayers at home during Ramzan while adhering to social distancing and lockdown norms.

Protesting farmers vow to hold tractor parade on Jan 26

Protesting farmers vow to hold tractor parade on Jan 26

Rediff.com2 Jan 2021

Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh said their proposed parade will be called "Kisan Parade" and it will be be held after the Republic Day parade.