Bulletin No. 1, 2011

32   Chinese University Bulletin No. 1, 2011 In the Sky with Diamonds A n asteroid has been named ‘88878 Bowenyueli’ after the University’s motto, a celestial symbol of how generations of CUHK members have forged ahead with perseverance and persistence, while another has been named after the current Vice-Chancellor. In fact a total of five asteroids have been inspired by members of CUHK, respectively former Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Laureate in Physics Prof. Charles K. Kao, Distinguished Professor-at-Large and another Nobel Laureate in Physics, Prof. Yang Chen-ning, and Distinguished Professor-at-Large and Fields Medalist Prof. Yau Shing-tung. Mr. Bill Yeung, a renowned amateur astronomer and president of the Hong Kong Astronomical Society, was the person who discovered the Bowenyueli asteroid. Mr. Yeung has unveiled over 2,000 asteroids and named some of them after people he respects. Though not a CUHK alumnus, Mr. Yeung happened to be at New Asia College, attending its 60th anniversary drama performance in November 2009. He was touched by two lines of the College anthem, penned by the late Prof. Ch'ien Mu and decided to name an asteroid after CUHK. ‘Even before this, I had intended to name an asteroid after someone who was involved in the battle against the SARS epidemic in 2003. Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, as we know, was named an “Asian Hero” by Time for his efforts at combating SARS. When he was appointed the seventh Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, I decided to name two asteroids, 88878 and 88879 which I had discovered on 25 September 2001, after the Chinese University and Professor Sung,’ said Mr. Yeung. After discussing his ideas with the University, he decided to name the asteroid after the University’s motto, ‘bo wen yue li’ (‘Through learning and temperance to virtue’) which reflects the University’s equal emphasis laid on the intellectual and the moral aspects of education. Subsequently, with the approval of the International Astronomical Union, ‘88878 Bowenyueli’ and ‘88879 Sungjaoyiu’ are born.