On the afternoon of Nov.4, the naming ceremony for 'OUYANG Ziyuan Star' took place on the new campus of IGCAS. At the ceremony, YAN Jun, Director of the National Astronomical Observatories of CAS (NAOC) presented CAS Academician OUYANG Ziyuan with the star name certificate and the orbit image of 'OUYANG Ziyuan Star'.

 

OUYANG Ziyuan, a famous Chinese cosmochemist and geochemist, is known as the Father of CHANG'e for his pivotal role in China’s lunar and deep space exploration programs.

 

The minor planet, known as No. 8919 internationally, was discovered by the Schmidt CCD Asteroid Program of NAOC on Oct.9，1996, and was bestowed the name to honor OUYANG Ziyuan for his notable achievements in the research, education and science popularization, especially for his great contributions to China's Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP).