Asteroid 18610 was discovered by Felix Hormuth. A longtime fan of Douglas Adams, it was confirmed on May 09, 2001 that he was to name Asteroid 18610 Arthurdent after the hero and protagonist of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Science Fiction writer Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and its sequels, died of a heart attack on May 11 at the age of 49. Only two days before his death, approval was given to name asteroid 18610 Arthurdent after the hero of the series. Apparently word of this did not reach Mr. Adams before his death. The name was proposed by the discoverer, Felix Hormuth, who discovered it in February, and hopefully Mr. Adams did know of the proposal.