NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images
2014年に史上最年少でノーベル平和賞を受賞したパキスタン人のマララ・ユスフザイさんの名前が、小惑星の名前となった。アメリカ航空宇宙局（NASA）が4月15日、「316201 Malala」と名付けたと発表した。
小惑星は、2010年に発見された「2010 ML48」。火星と木星の間の小惑星帯にあり、直径は約4キロ。太陽を5年半の周期で回っている。直径約4キロでトナーのような真っ黒な色をしているという。マララさんのノーベル賞受賞に敬意を表して、NASAジェット推進研究所の女性研究者チームが提案。国際天文学連合（IAU）が認めたという。
マララさんの名がつけられた「316201 Malala」
チームはこれまでにも、自然保護活動家のワンガリ・マータイさんや、女性の公民権運動家ローザ・パークスさん、歌手アレサ・フランクリンら偉大な女性の名を小惑星に付けている。
マララさんは、女性が教育を受ける権利を主張して、イスラム武装勢力タリバーンの銃撃を受け、奇跡的な回復を遂げた。その後は、「マララ基金」を設立するなど、女性や子供の教育の権利を訴えて活動している。
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