3043 San Diego is an inner main belt asteroid discovered by Eleanor F. Helin on September 30, 1982 at Palomar Observatory. It is a member of the Hungaria family. Its provisional designation was 1982 SA, but on May 3, 1984, it was named after the city of San Diego, California.
The asteroid name was given to the city due to the council's efforts in the dark-sky movement. Palomar mountain is located within San Diego County, California, and the astronomers at the site were concerned that the light pollution from the city would ruin their ability to use the observatory. The council had voted to use Low-Pressure Sodium (LPS) vapor lamps for their street lights. This fixture only emitted light at one wavelength, which astronomers could readily filter out.
Famous quotes containing the word san:
“Today, San Francisco has experienced a double tragedy of incredible proportions. As acting mayor, I order an immediate state of mourning in our city. The city and county of San Francisco must and will pull itself together at this time. We will carry on as best as we possibly can.... I think we all have to share the same sense of shame and the same sense of outrage.”
—Dianne Feinstein (b. 1933)