Discovered by Y. C. Chang MPC designation 3789 Observation arc 31665 days (86.69 yr) Orbits Sun Named after China Asteroid group Asteroid belt | Discovery date 25 October 1928 Minor planet category Outer main belt Discovered 25 October 1928 Discoverer Zhang Yuzhe Discovery site Yerkes Observatory | |
Alternative names 1928 UF, 1986 QK1
(formerly 1125 China; no longer used) Similar Asteroid belt, Solar System, Sun, 3753 Cruithne | ||
3789 Zhongguo (1928 UF, 1986 QK1) is an outer main-belt asteroid discovered on October 25, 1928 by Y. C. Chang at Williams Bay. It is one of very few asteroids located in the 2 : 1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. When first discovered in 1928, Zhongguo was named 1125 China. However, as it was not seen again, its designation was later taken by 1957 UN1, which became 1125 China. When re-discovered in 1986, it was named Zhongguo, which is the Chinese word for China ("中国", Mandarin: Zhōngguó).
Discovery, loss, rediscovery, and correlation
While studying in Chicago in 1928, Zhang Yuzhe discovered an asteroid that was given the provisional designation 1928 UF, and later the number 1125. He named it "China" or "中国" (Zhōngguó). However, this asteroid was not observed beyond its initial appearance and a precise orbit could not be calculated. In 1957, the Purple Mountain Observatory in China discovered a new asteroid, and with Zhang Yuzhe's agreement the new object 1957 UN1 was reassigned the official designation 1125 China in place of the lost 1928 UF. However, in 1986, the newly discovered object 1986 QK1 was confirmed to be a rediscovery of the original 1928 UF, and this object was named 3789 Zhongguo. (Also see Lost asteroid.)