Tajikistan decides to name a planet 'Tajikistan'

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Tajikistan’s state news agency Khovar has reported that a planet has been named after the country, in recognition of contributions made by its scientists to astrophysics and space studies.

At a ceremonial meeting to mark the Day of Knowledge, it was announced that “one of the small planets of the solar system” had been named “Tajikistan”.

The honour was bestowed by an organisation called the International Astrophysicists Union, and a certificate confirming the naming of the planet was handed to President Emomali Rahmon by the head of the Academy of Sciences, Farhod Rahimi.

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However, an online search for the organisation that allegedly named the planet, the International Astrophysicists Union, yields no results. While a similarly named organisation, the International Astronomical Union, has an online presence, its website does not mention the planet Tajikistan.

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