Welcome back to the Brian Lairn Show here on WNYC.

I'm David First, keeping the seat warm for Brian today.

And we wrap up today's show by taking a brief trip to space.

Our colleagues over at Radio Lab have spent a lot of time this year pondering what goes on up there beyond the Earth's surface.

But one astronomical, if I can say the word, entity really caught their attention, quasi-moons.

So much so that Latif Nosser, the co-host of Radio Lab,

successfully got one named Zuzve. Catchy name. Now, Radio Lab has teamed up with the

International Astronomical Union to name another moon, and this time the choice is up to listeners.

Radio Lab fans from across the globe submitted potential names

for 204GU9, the quasi-moon at the center of this contest, and now only seven names remain in the running.

We learn more now about quasi-moons and the one that shall be named with Latif from Radio Lab

and with Kelly Blumenthal, who is a member of the International Astronomical Union,

the other organization hosting the contest.

Latov and Kelly, welcome.

Thanks so much for having us.

So, Latov, it's great to have you here.

And first of all, Lattif, what is a quasi-moon?

And am I even pronouncing that the right way?

You can pronounce it however you like.

Oh, thanks.

They're also called quasi-satellites.

But basically, quasi-moon is a kind of space rock that sort of acts like a moon

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