NEW YORK — An asteroid between Mars and Jupiter has been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of actor George Takei, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the original "Star Trek" series and movies.

"I am now a heavenly body," Takei, 70, said Tuesday, laughing. "I found out about it yesterday. ... I was blown away."

The celestial rock, discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994, was formerly known as 1994 GT9. It joins the 4659 Roddenberry (named for the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry) and the 68410 Nichols (for co-star Nichelle Nichols).

The renaming of 7307 Takei was approved by the International Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature.

Unlike the Web sites that sell naming rights to stars, the IAU-approved names are used by astronomers, said Tom Burbine, the Mount Holyoke College astronomy professor who proposed the name swap.

"This is the name that will be used for all eternity," he said.

Burbine suggested Takei's name in part out of appreciation for his work with the Japanese American Citizens League and gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.