National Central University names asteroid after Pingtung's Hengchun

Taipei, Oct. 11 (CNA) National Central University (NCU) on Saturday announced that an asteroid it discovered has been officially named "Hengchun," coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Pingtung County township's founding.

At a press conference at Pingtung County Library, NCU Vice President Chen Wen-yih (陳文逸) described the asteroid's naming as "a permanent gift to Hengchun, visible to the world," highlighting the township's rich history, culture and community.

The asteroid, previously designated 724875, was discovered on Aug. 29, 2008, and officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2025 after more than a decade of observation, according to Chen.

Chen said he hopes that when people see the asteroid in the night sky, they will remember the stories of the land it represents and Taiwan's ongoing contributions to astronomy.

He added that the asteroid bearing Hengchun's name will inspire children from the township to "chase their dreams and explore new frontiers."

Pingtung County's Transportation and Tourism Development Division thanked NCU for the tribute and pledged to continue promoting astronomical tourism through tour guide training, "dark sky-friendly" business certification, and large-scale stargazing events.

"Hengchun" is the third asteroid to be named after a Pingtung location, following "Pingtung" in 2006 and "Kenting" in 2009.