On March 21, HUST (Huazhong University of Science and Technology), which was about to celebrate its 70th anniversary, received a gift from space. The National Astronomical Observatories announced that the asteroid with the permanent number 52487 was given the name "Huazhongkejida" (52487 = 1995 XO2).

▲ Huazhong University of Science and Technology

The asteroid, which is located between Mars and Jupiter and has an orbital period of 3.37 years, was discovered on Dec. 6, 1995 (1995 XO2) by the National Astronomical Observatories' Xinglong Observatory.

Approved by the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Working Group Small Body Nomenclature and announced through IAU's Minor Planet Circulars, this asteroid with the permanent number 52487 was named after the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The "52" in its number sounds like "my love" in Chinese, while "487" is consistent with the recorded number of the university at the Ministry of Education. These signs all express a love for the university.