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. . . .  Off topic, how can there be a
Robert VanderPol II? My birth certificate reads "Jr." after my names. At
that point my father became "Senior." As I understand it, at least in
the USA, the first person to have a numbered designation would be the
son of a junior. The junior does not then become the II, even with a
III. Perhaps it is different for nobility and popes? Any help on that?

Normally a son named for his father is a Jr., and one named for an uncle or grandfather is a II.  I was named for my father and should be a Jr..  However it was entered on my birth certificate as II so I am legally not Jr.   I asked my father recently why I was named for him.  He indicated it was my mother's idea.  I suspect that he didn't want to be a Sr. which is how I became a II and avoided Jr.  I did not press him on the Jr. vs. II issue. 

I am going to ask my mother about this but haven't yet.  

I thought about naming my son III for about 1.5sec and decided I was not that nacissistic and named him after my best friend.

My brother's son is named after him and they went the same route, my nephew is II rather than Jr.

And on that note, deciding that this thread has strayed at least 2 steps from navigation.  Returning to something akin to celestial nav, though only related, I see that there will be 2 Iridium flares at my house in the next 2 hours, one at -5.6 apparent magnitude, so very bright.