The asteroid is officially named "Pan Jianwei Star"

China News Service, Hefei, September 11 (Reporter Wu Lan) The asteroid with the international number 470341 has been officially named "Pan Jianwei Star". The reporter learned on the 11th that after the 2026 opening ceremony of the University of Science and Technology of China ("USTC") held in Hefei that day, the school held a naming ceremony for "Pan Jianwei Star".

It is understood that in recognition of Pan Jianwei's pioneering experimental research on multi-particle entanglement and interference, free space quantum transmission, and his outstanding contributions that have made possible the realization of the superiority of wide-area quantum communication and quantum computing, after being recommended by the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Selection Committee, applied by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and approved by the International Asteroid Nomenclature Committee, an international communiqué was issued: the asteroid No. 470341 was officially named "Pan Jianwei's Star".

Pan Jianwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and executive vice president of the University of Science and Technology of China, said that he prefers to regard "Pan Jianwei Star" as a star that belongs to all quantum science and technology workers in China and the University of Science and Technology of China. It carries the path of scientific exploration that a collective has walked together, and is also a microcosm of the continuous development and progress of China's quantum science and technology. (over)