Nanjing University has had an asteroid named after it by the International Asteroid Naming Committee in honor of the institution's huge contribution to education, science and social progress. The asteroid was discovered by the purple mountain observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The naming ceremony was held in the university on Thursday in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

Nanjing University is one of China's most elite higher learning institutions. It will celebrate its centenary on May 20 this year.

Astronomy is one of the university's most prestigious subjects. The department has nurtured many renowned Chinese astronomers

(People's Daily May 17, 2002)