Fans of grunge icons Soundgarden have petitioned for the newly-photographed black hole to be named after the band’s late frontman, Chris Cornell.
Just last week, scientific history was made when the first-ever photograph of a black hole was released.
Taken by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, this was a major moment in human history, and undoubtedly deserves a name that recognises it as such.
Now, music fans reckon Chris Cornell deserves the honour.
Within hours of the photograph being made public, fans began a petition for the black hole to be named after Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, in honour of the band’s 1994 single, ‘Black Hole Sun’.
“I ask NASA, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration and all the astronomers and scientists involved in this discovery, to name this black hole after Chris Cornell,” wrote petition organiser Giuliana Jarrin.
“This would be a ‘surreal’ and amazing way to honor his life and his contribution to music.”
At the time of writing, the petition has managed to gain the support of over 35,000 signatories, slowly closing in on its goal of 50,000.
Check out Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun’:
However, it appears there may be bad news in the pipeline for these supporters, with CNN reporting that the black hole in question has already been given a name.
Named Powehi, its moniker comes from a Hawaiian phrase in the Kumulipo that refers to an “embellished dark source of unending creation.”
Larry Kimura, a Hawaiian language professor, was tasked with giving the black hole its name, choosing the name partially due to the fact that two of the telescopes used to photograph the deep space attraction were located in Hawaii.
“To have the privilege of giving a Hawaiian name to the very first scientific confirmation of a black hole is very meaningful to me and my Hawaiian lineage that comes from po,” explained Kimura in a statement.
“I hope we are able to continue naming future black holes from Hawaii astronomy according to the Kumulipo.”
While it seems as though fans were rather determined in their attempts to name the black hole after Chris Cornell, it seems that due to the University of Hawaii, their efforts have been… outshined.
Check out Soundgarden’s ‘Outshined’:
