DANBURY, CONN. — A newly discovered asteroid has been named after a longtime professor of astronomy at Western Connecticut State University.

The asteroid is now known as 175450 Phillipklu, after Dr. Phillip Lu, who taught at Western for 29 years from 1970 to 1999. In 1992, he was named CSU Professor of Astronomy by the Connecticut State University System.

Dr. H.C. Lin, director of the National Lulin Observatory in Taiwan, is a student of one of Lu’s former students and the discoverer of the minor planet, as asteroids are called after their orbit is established. As the first person to spot the object, Lin is entitled to recommend its name to the International Astronomical Union.

Lin apparently consulted on the name with Dr. W.S. Tsay. Lu was Tsay’s Ph.D. thesis adviser from 1979 to 1984 and later consulted with Tsay on the design and construction of the observatory, where Tsay was the first director.

The observatory houses 36-inch, 40-inch and 80-inch telescopes. The newly named 175450 Phillipklu, which travels an elliptical orbit that averages about 238 million miles from the sun, can be seen only with a 40-inch or larger telescope.

The minor planet was first observed in 2002, and was tracked several times through its last sighting on Oct. 1, 2014. The name was officially attached on Oct. 9, two days before Lu turned 82.

The rock orbits the sun every 3.91 years between Mars and Jupiter and is 59,604 times dimmer than the sun.

Despite its new notoriety, Lu said, “You aren’t missing anything if you don’t see it.”

Lu, who lives in Bethel, has remained active since his retirement from Western. He continues to conduct research, and he paints and writes poetry. His latest poetry collection is titled “An Abridged Portrait — Biography.”

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

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