Galloway could soon be heading into outer space – thanks to schoolchildren from Lancashire.
The International Astronomical Union is renaming distant planets and stars to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
And to find the best names it launched a world-wide competition for schools to put forward their suggestions.
Garrett Hall Primary in Wigan was among over 1,000 UK schools who submitted entries to IAU judges in the UK.
And the school rocketed into the final ten with pupil Emily Wild’s proposal of “Galloway” for the star and “Elan” for the planet.
Emily picked the names because she knew both were dark sky parks – one in Scotland and the other in Wales.
The star and planet in the Lynx constellation are currently named WASP-13 and WASP-13b.
Class teacher Nick Parr said: “All of our Year 5s put forward amazing suggestions for the names of these planets as part of our Earth and Space project.
“It would be lovely if everybody in Galloway could give us their support in the public vote.
“And we would be extremely proud if Emily’s was chosen.”
Mr Parr added: “It would be amazing to think that in years to come people living on the planet will look back towards Earth and remember Galloway and Elan.
“Anyone who would like to register their vote can do so at exoworld.co.uk .
“Good luck to Galloway!”
The IAU is inviting schools all over the globe to rename newly discovered stars and exoplanets – planets outside our own solar system.
WASP-13 was first observed in 1997 and is approximately the same size as our own sun.
Follow up observations by astronomers using the James Gregory Telescope at St Andrews suggested an exoplanet could be in its orbit.
Later analysis at a French observatory led to the planet’s discovery in 2008.
Voting closes on exoworld.co.uk on December 2.
