96747 Crespodasilva is a main-belt asteroid discovered by Lucy D’Escoffier Crespo da Silva. While making observations, at the Wallace Astrophysical Observatory, August 16, 1999, she sighted this new asteroid.

Crespo da Silva was working toward an undergraduate degree

Undergraduate degree

An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...

 in earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences at MIT and was to have graduated in December 2000. She took her own life in November 2000. Her area of specialization was observing light curves of minor planets.

Typically, astronomers will name their discoveries after other notable people or each other, but an exception was made in this case. After her death, Richard P. Binzel

Richard P. Binzel

Richard "Rick" P. Binzel is a Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the inventor of the Torino Scale, a method for categorizing the impact hazard associated with near-Earth objects such as asteroids and comets.Binzel was awarded the H. C. Urey Prize...

, an MIT planetary sciences faculty member, suggested that the minor planet Crespo da Silva had discovered be named for her. This exception was granted for her contribution to the field. The asteroid is now designated as 96747 Crespodasilva.

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