The asteroid number "448988" was permanently named "Changzhou Middle School Star" under the approval by the International Asteroid Nomenclature Committee. Asteroids are currently the only celestial bodies that can be named by their discoverers and are internationally recognized.
Asteroid 448988 was discovered on March 23, 2009 by the Near-Earth Object Telescope of the Xuyi Observatory of the Purple Mountain Observatory.
The farthest distance between the asteroid and Earth is 584 million kilometers, and the closest is only 219 million kilometers.
On July 4, 2021, nominated by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the International Astronomical Union approved the naming of the asteroid 448988 as "Changzhou Middle School Star".
On January 24, the naming and release ceremony of "Changzhou Middle School Star" was held at Changzhou Senior High School in Jiangsu Province.
"Changzhou Middle School is committed to cultivating students who have made outstanding contributions to China's social reform,and has trained more than 20 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering.Here I would like to express my warmest congratulations to Changzhou Middle School and all its students."said Chang Jin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director of the National Astronomical Observatory
The naming of international asteroids is international and permanent, making it an international honor. Asteroid names are generally only awarded to units or individuals who have made significant contributions to the country. It is extremely rare for asteroids to be named after a middle school.
"I think the naming of asteroids is not only an honor for us,but also a responsibility and mission.Teachers and students in Changzhou Middle School need to follow the overall design of high-quality high schools in the years
to come, train our students well,and strive to make every student wonderful."said Shi Pinnan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Principal of Changzhou Senior High School
