Five Minor Planets Take After Names of China’s Top Scientists

During a ceremony held on Monday, five minor planets have been named after China's top scientists, according to a report from the Xinhua News Agency.

The National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) suggested the naming, while the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Minor Planet Center (MPC) approved it.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong gave certificates to the top scientists to recognize their achievements.

First off the list is 2015 Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou, who has the Minor Planet No. 31230 named after her. The first Chinese woman to be awarded the prestigious Nobel recognition helped discover artemisinin to treat malaria and save millions of lives.

Meanwhile, Minor Planet No. 12935 was named after prominent dynamicist Zheng Zhemin. The scientist is considered as one of the founders of the field of explosion mechanics.

Minor Planet No. 19282 was named after Zhang Cunhao, hailed as the founder of the high-energy chemical laser field in the country. He is also a pioneering scholar in the field of molecular reaction dynamics.

Famous physical scientist Xie Jialin also had a planet named after him: Minor Planet No. 32928. He is regarded as the founder of particle accelerators in China.

Lastly, Minor Planet No. 9221 was named after architect, city planner and educator Wu Liangyong.

Except for Tu, the other four scientists have previously earned the State Top Scientific and Technological recognition, China's highest science award, for their exemplary scientific contributions and technological innovation.

The minor planets named after the highly regarded Chinese scientists were discovered between 1995 and 1999. The discoveries were made at the Xinglong observation station in northern China though the Beijing Schmidt CCD Asteroid Program.

International conventions state that the discoverers of minor planets who were granted confirmation by the MPC have the right to name the new planets.