The book, titled The Story of Asteroids (小行星的故事), aims to draw attention to the nation’s spirit and values, the university said. Guests pose at a launch event for a book titled The Stories of Asteroids at National Central University in Taipei on Monday. The asteroids discovered by the observatory are valuable assets for Taiwan, as according to International Astronomical Union rules, asteroids may be named by those who discover them, Ip added. The naming process can take from one to 10 years, Lin said, adding that all literature mentioning the celestial bodies would use those names. Before beginning the naming process, applicants must first prove an asteroid’s existence and plot its precise orbital path, Jou said.

Source: Taipei Times March 09, 2021 16:06 UTC