Asteroid named after 'Star Trek' actor

Star Trek actor George Takei has had an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter named in his honour.

The rock has been renamed 7307 Takei after the 70-year-old, who played Hikaru Sulu in the original series and films.

The Committee on Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union approved the new label for the asteroid, which was previously known as "1994 GT9".

Takei - who plays Hiro Nakamura's father in Heroes - said: "I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky - just like an asteroid.

"I am honoured, indeed transported to the galaxies, to know that my name has been assigned to an astronomical object in our solar system. I am yet to come down to Earth."

The asteroid was discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994 and is about 5 miles in diameter.

"This is the name that will be used for all eternity," said Massachusetts astronomer Tom H. Burbine, who chose to honour Takei's work with the Japanese American Citizens League and the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.

Series creator Gene Roddenberry and Lt Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols also have asteroids named after them.