`I was always fascinated by stars ( now I'm among them'.

Byline: By Daniel Thomson

A Durham University astronomer who dreamed of being among the stars as a boy has finally had his wish granted without having to leave home.

Professor Francis Richard Stephenson, 63, of Fenham, Newcastle, has spent his life studying cosmic phenomena and has now been honoured by having a minor planet named after him.

The asteroid, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, was discovered in 1973, but has only been known by the number 4171 T-2 ( until now.

The minor planet will now be known as Fristephenson in recognition of the Durham academic's research into ancient and medieval astronomical observations, supernovae and comets.

Prof Stephenson was nominated for the honour by a former student, Dr Daniel Green of Harvard University, who put the proposal to an international committee.

And Prof Stephenson said last night the honour had come as a huge surprise to him.

He said: "My friend at Harvard told me last year that he was going to nominate me, but I didn't hear anything for months afterwards and completely forgot about it.

"And then I received a call out of the blue telling me they had named a minor planet Fristephenson in my honour. I couldn't quite believe it.

"I was always fascinated by the stars and I am now among them.

"It is a great honour to have anything named after you, but as an astronomer I am delighted to have a planet bear my name."

Fristephenson is two-and-a-half miles in diameter and takes three years and 10 months to orbit the sun at a distance of about 140 million miles from Earth.

Prof Stephenson said: "Unlike some minor planets, Fristephenson does not cross the Earth's orbit, so it presents no danger to us here on Earth.

Prof Stephenson has worked as a researcher in the Department of Physics at Durham University for more than 20 years and previously studied physics, geophysics and astronomy in Newcastle gaining four degrees.

He has been married to Ellen for 30 years and the couple have three children, Gillian, 41, Susan, 40, and 35-year-old John.

Professor Stephenson joins a long list of people who have had asteroids named after them

J Asteroid 2001 Einstein (Albert Einstein)

J Asteroid 7672 Hawking (Stephen Hawking)

J Asteroid 5418 Joyce (James Joyce)

J Asteroid 2675 Tolkien (JR Tolkien)

J Asteroid 2985 Shakespeare (William Shakespeare)

J Asteroid 7934 Sinatra (Frank Sinatra)

J Asteroid 17059 Elvis (Elvis Presley)

J Asteroid 7032 Hitchcock (Alfred Hitchcock)

J Asteroid 9007 James Bond (Fictional spy created by Ian Fleming)

J Asteroid 4659 Roddenberry (Gene Roddenberry ( creator of Star Trek)