
The prime minister has welcomed reports that the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has selected Thai-nominated names for distant celestial bodies.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was very pleased the IAU had selected the Thai names Kaewkosin and Phailinsiam for red dwarf star GJ 3470 and its bluish-green planet GJ 3470b, respectively. The names were entered for The NameExoWorlds 2022 contest, which received name nominations for celestial objects from all over the world.