Philadelphia Daily News Tattle Column

Oct 03, 02:26 PM

Current Headlines: By Howard Gensler, Philadelphia Daily News

Oct. 3--Those "Star Trek" actors sure do get around.

George Takei (aka Mr. Sulu) is taking up permanent residence in the solar system as the namesake of the asteroid formerly known as the 1994 GT9.

The newly named 7307 Takei asteroid is between Mars and Jupiter.

"I am now a heavenly body," Takei said yesterday, laughing. "I found out about it yesterday. . . . I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky -- just like an asteroid."

We were "privileged to work on a show that had this kind of a vision for our future, but we're actors," Takei added. "Yes, we all lobbied . . . for a star on Hollywood Boulevard, but never a star up in the heavens."

7307 Takei, discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994, joins 4659 Roddenberry (named for "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry) and 68410 Nichols (for co-star Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura). Other main-belt asteroids are already named for science-fiction luminaries Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov.

"It's in general considered quite an honor," said Lars Lindberg Christensen, spokesman for the International Astronomical Union, which approves the names.

Under the committee's policies, whoever discovers an asteroid has 10 years in which to propose a name. After that, the panel considers other suggestions, although it warns would-be namers to avoid anything "in questionable taste" (42DD Anna Nicole, for instance) and any names honoring political or military figures sooner than 100 years after their deaths.

About 14,000 asteroid names have so far been approved by the IAU, leaving 151,000 identified asteroids still nameless.

0819 Tattle, anyone?

Tattbits

--Halle Berry says she and boyfriend Gabriel Aubry tried and tried and tried to get pregnant.

Halle said yesterday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "There was a lot of staying home and doing what you do. Like, all the time, around the clock."

And people think this is an easy job.

--After Leonardo DiCaprio's visit earlier this year resulted in a scuffle with journalists, supermodel Bar Refaeli says she will no longer bring her famous friends to Israel.

The Israeli media have closely followed Bar and Leo with a hint of pride that a local girl snagged a Hollywood A-lister.

"I won't bring anyone famous to Israel because there is a chutzpah here that you won't see anywhere else," said Refaeli, who's obviously never been to Jeweler's Row, in yesterday's Yediot Ahronot daily.

Refaeli also said she's moving to L.A. and has no regrets about dodging Israel's mandatory military service.

"I don't regret not having been drafted into the army, because I made out big," she said.

Gee, if everyone in Israel had that attitude, she wouldn't have to worry about bringing friends there because it wouldn't be there.

--As East and West Germany celebrate 17 years of reunification today, one of the biggest arguments stems from whose German shepherds are superior.

Where's Michael Vick when you need him?

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

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