7307 Takei
7307 Takei is an asteroid orbiting the Sun. Discovered 1994 Apr. 13 by Y. Shimizu and T. Urata at Nachi-Katsuura. It was named in honor of George Takei (b. 1937), the actor who played the character Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek series. George Takei also has a lengthy record of public service through his involvement with organizations such as the Japanese American Citizens League and the Human Rights Campaign. The name was suggested by T. H. Burbine.
Upon learning of the decision to name the asteroid after him, he said, "I am now a heavenly body. ... I found out about it yesterday. ... I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky—just like an asteroid."
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