TAIPEI: National Central University (NCU) announced yesterday that it will name an asteroid discovered by the institution's Lulin Observatory as Yushan, in honor of Taiwan's highest peak.

"In order to manifest the significance of Yushan and the symbolic meaning it represents for Taiwan, NCU will name asteroid No 185546 after the highest summit in Taiwan," the university said in a press statement.

The initiative is also aimed at raising the international profile of Yushan, which last week was declared one of 77 nominees for listing as one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

NCU also urged the public to take part in the next round of online balloting once the final list of nominees for the New Seven Natural Wonders is selected.

A ceremony will be held on July 14 to formally name the asteroid. The ceremony will be attended by interior chief Liao Liou-yi, Yushan National Park Administration Office director Chen Lung-sheng and NCU president Chiang Wei-ling, the press statement said.

The 3,952-meter Yushan, the highest peak in Northeast Asia and considered a symbol of Taiwan, is a prime location for astronomical studies because of its altitude and low pollution, according to NCU, which set up the Lulin Observatory in the Yushan National Park in 1998.

The observatory, which has discovered some 1,000 asteroids since 2002, plays a key role in Taiwan's astronomy research and is involved in a variety of international cooperation agreements.

Because of the Lulin Observatory, for example, NCU is able to participate in the University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS project (the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System), making Taiwan the only Asian partner in the initiative.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 07/14/2009 page2)