NEW YORK—A piece of outer space named for George Takei is in kind of a rough neighborhood for somebody who steers a starship: an asteroid belt.

An asteroid between Mars and Jupiter has been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of the actor, 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 Oct. 2, laughing. “I found out about it yesterday. …I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky—just like an asteroid.”

The celestial rock, discovered by two Japanese astronomers in 1994, was formerly known as 1994 GT9. The renaming of 7307 Takei was approved by the International Astronomical Union’s Committee on Small Body Nomenclature. About 14,000 asteroid names have been approved by the panel, union spokesman Lars Lindberg Christensen said.

Mount Holyoke College astronomy professor Tom Burbine said he suggested Takei’s name in part out of appreciation for his work with the Japanese American Citizens League and with the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.