Appointment with the Starry Sky丨Look! The "Chinese Star" is shining in the sky

(This article is reproduced from Xinhua News Agency client)

There is a kind of romance belonging to astronomy, which is to let your name shine in the sea of ​​stars.

In 1928, young astronomer Zhang Yuzhe discovered an asteroid in the United States. This was also the first asteroid discovered by a Chinese. It was named "Zhonghua Star". Since the "Zhonghua Star", more and more Chinese elements have been shining in the vast sky for more than 90 years. What are the "Chinese stars" in the sky? Why do astronomers "chase" asteroids? Astronomical experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences will help you solve the "Chinese mysteries" in the sky.

Zhao Haibin, director of the Planetary Science and Deep Space Exploration Research Department of the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced that among all kinds of celestial bodies discovered in the universe, only asteroids can be named according to the wishes of the discoverer. Generally speaking, the discoverer nominates to the International Astronomical Union, and after review and approval, the name will be announced to the international community. Once the name of an asteroid is determined, it cannot be changed forever.

"Naming asteroids not only embodies the hard work of scientific researchers, but also carries the good wishes of mankind. Astronomers regard it as a romantic honor," said Zhao Haibin.

Compared with Western countries, China started its asteroid exploration relatively late, but thanks to the efforts of astronomers, the number of "Chinese stars" shining in the sky is increasing, and the scope of coverage is becoming wider and wider.

——There are "place-name stars": At present, most provinces and cities in my country have corresponding asteroids named after administrative regions, such as Beijing Star, Shanghai Star, Shandong Star, and Jiangsu Star;

——There are "mythological stars": such as Nuwa Star, Chang'e Star, and Zhulong Star;

——There are "event stars": such as Shenzhou Star, Olympic Volunteer Star, and Beijing Olympic Star;

——There are "Ancient Celebrity Stars": such as Zhang Heng Star, Zu Chongzhi Star, Confucius Star, Laozi Star, Sima Qian Star, Li Bai Star, Du Fu Star, Su Dongpo Star, Guo Shoujing Star;

——There are "modern scientist stars": such as Li Siguang Star, Wu Jianxiong Star, Wang Shouguan Star, Ye Shuhua Star, Zhou Guangzhao Star, Ye Peijian Star, etc. In order to express respect for Zhang Yuzhe, in 1978, the International Astronomical Center announced that the asteroid No. 2051 discovered by the Chinese-American astronomer Shao Zhengyuan was officially named "Zhang Yuzhe Star".

Why do scientists observe and track asteroids? Zhao Haibin said that asteroids are a type of celestial body that may come into close contact with the Earth. Discovering and tracking them will help humans understand possible security threats to the Earth and thus protect the Earth's security.

At present, the astronomical community generally recognizes that asteroids with a diameter of 140 meters and orbiting within 7.5 million kilometers of the Earth may pose a threat to the Earth. Humans have discovered more than 2,000 such asteroids, which only account for about 40% of the total number.

At present, my country has joined the International Asteroid Warning Network as a formal member, and the Purple Mountain Observatory's Near-Earth Object Telescope is the main equipment. At the same time, Chinese astronomers are also promoting the construction of a larger-caliber next-generation near-Earth object monitoring equipment to improve observation capabilities, hoping to play a more important role in the field of international asteroid monitoring and warning.

Producer: Hu Qinghai

Planning: Liu Xinhui

Reporter: Wang Jueyin, Qiu Bingqing

Editor: Lian Changyan, Tang Jianhui

Poster production: Chen Jie

Produced jointly by Xinhua News Agency Domestic Department and Xinhua News Agency Jiangsu Branch

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