See here the original letter from the AIC Board-member R. Jay GaBany to Daniel Marquardt.

"...The AIC Board of Directors has struck a new citation, called the Pleiades Award. Like the brilliant star cluster that inspired its name, this accolade is limited to the only very brightest, most exceptional imagers who are either youthful in years or relatively young to the endeavor of astro-photography. Its purpose is to recognize and encourage those few outstanding individuals who do not yet meet the criteria for Hubble status but demonstrate skills and personal qualities that were the early hallmarks of folks who went on to receive our highest honor. I am therefore proud (and personally delighted!) to report that, by unanimous vote of the AIC Board of Directors, you have been named the 2009 recipient of this citation- The AIC Pleiades Award! You are the first to receive this award!..."

Astrophotographer and Minor Planets specialist Wolfgang Ries has dedicated one of his MP discoveries to Danny Marquardt.

Minor Planet named after Dan.

Requiem on UT by Tammy Plotner

Daniel Marquardt @ NASA APOD

Daniel Marquardt @ NASA APOD