3789 Zhongguo, provisional designation ', is a resonant asteroid from outermost region of the
asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, located roughly between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars. It contains a great many solid, irregularly shaped bodies, of many sizes, but much smaller than planets, c ...
, approximately in diameter. It was discovered in 1928 by Chinese astronomer
Zhang Yuzhe
Zhang Yuzhe (; 16 February 1902 – 21 July 1986), also known as Yu-Che Chang, was a Chinese astronomer and director of the Purple Mountain Observatory who is widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese astronomy. accessed 3 October 2006 H ...
at the
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory ( ) is an astronomical observatory located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States. The observatory was operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 to 2018. Owner ...
in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, in the United States. Originally named "China", the asteroid became lost and its name was transferred to another asteroid. After its re-discovery in 1986, it was named Zhongguo, which is the Chinese word for "China". The T/ Xk-type asteroid is the namesake of the resonant Zhongguo group, located in the asteroid belt's Hecuba gap. It has a short rotation period of 3.8 hours.
Discovery and re-discovery
While studying in Chicago, Chinese astronomer
Zhang Yuzhe
Zhang Yuzhe (; 16 February 1902 – 21 July 1986), also known as Yu-Che Chang, was a Chinese astronomer and director of the Purple Mountain Observatory who is widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese astronomy. accessed 3 October 2006 H ...
observed an unknown asteroid, provisionally designated ' for the first time on 25 October 1928. After it was (prematurely) given the number 1125, he named it "China" or "中国" (''Zhōngguó'') in honor of his native country. As it was not observed beyond its initial appearance, a precise orbit could not be calculated, and as a consequence, it became a
lost asteroid
A minor planet is "lost" when today's observers cannot find it, because its location is too uncertain to target observations. This happens if the orbital elements of a minor planet are not known accurately enough, typically because the observat ...
.
In 1957, the
Purple Mountain Observatory
The Purple Mountain Observatory (), also known as Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Purple Mountain in the east of Nanjing.
Description
The Purple Mountain Observatory was established in 1934 f ...
in China discovered another asteroid, '. With the consent of Zhang Yuzhe, the designation
1125 China
1125 China ( ''prov. designation'': ) is a dark background asteroid from the outer regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 30 October 1957, by astronomer Zhāng Yùzhé (Y. C. Chang，张钰哲) at the Chinese Purple Mountain Observa ...
was transferred from the 1928-lost asteroid to this newly discovered one. However, in August 1986, the newly observed object ' was identified as the rediscovery of the originally lost asteroid. On 31 May 1988 its official name Zhongguo was published by the Minor Planet Center ().
Orbit and classification
''Zhongguo'' is a non-
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...