Observers Lin Qi-sheng and Ye Quan-zhi, from Taiwan National Central University’s (NCU) Lulin Observatory, discovered an unknown asteroid in 2008 and named it Taichung. After it was confirmed in orbit and received the permanent number 300892, the Taichung City Government and the Taichung City Taichung Astronomical Society introduced the asteroid to the public on July 28.

Apple Daily reports, NCU’s observatory spotters Lin and Ye collaborated in 2008 to carry out the Lulin Sky Survey (LUSS) in order to find the previously undiscovered asteroid. The asteroid currently named Taichung has already formally gone through full examination by the Committee for Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU CSBN).

The asteroid, Taichung, is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is about four kilometers big and has an apparent magnitude of 21, meaning it is not visible if using a regular telescope. You can only trace it using the one-meter-long telescope with a camera added on at the Lulin Observatory.

Liberty Times reports, the Taichung City Government Information Bureau says that by the end of November this year, the “Taichung" asteroid will appear in the direction of the Sagittarius constellation in the south of Taichung every evening after 6:40 pm.

Translated by Sarah Grasdijk
Edited by Olivia Yang

Sources:
Apple Daily
Liberty Times