This minor planet was named " Solidarity " in response to the September 11 attacks . As a commemorative gesture , the IAU 's Committee for the Nomenclature of Small Bodies chose three objects discovered in observatories on different continents and christened them with names representing some of the most basic and universal human values . The other two selections were 8990 Compassion ( discovered from Europe ) and 8992 Magnanimity ( discovered from Asia ) . The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 2 October 2001 ( )
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
8991 Solidarity