New asteroid named after Taipei by NCU

2014-10-28

An asteroid discovered by Taoyuan County-based National Central University was named Taipei Oct. 24 in recognition of the city as a hub for astronomical education in Taiwan.

“As well as the cultural, economic and political center of Taiwan, Taipei boasts the country’s best resources in astronomical research,” NCU President Chou Ching-yang said. “The naming will further cement collaboration between the university and the city.”

Jointly discovered July 22, 2006, by Lin Hung-chin, director of NCU’s Lulin Observatory in central Taiwan, and Ye Quanzhi from mainland China, Asteroid 171381 Taipei was officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union Committee on Small Body Nomenclature in September. Its name was later published on the website of Minor Planet Center.

Located roughly 488 million kilometers from the sun between Mars and Jupiter, the body is 2 to 6 square meters in size and takes roughly 5.16 years to orbit the sun.

The asteroid can be observed using a powerful telescope from next March. It is the 10th of its kind to be named after a city or county of Taiwan, with the first Asteroid 147918 Chiayi in 2007.

According to NCU, Taiwan is a leader in Asia when it comes to asteroid discovery. The university has made more than 800 findings under its Sky Survey Project, with 27 officially recognized.

As part of the naming celebrations, Taipei City Government and NCU are hosting a series of activities at the Taipei Astronomical Museum such as exhibitions, guided tours and speeches.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=223299&CtNode=413)