On the morning of October 11, the “Xianshiyou ”Star Naming Announcement and Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony was held at the Huyi Campus.

Attending the event were Wu Xuefeng, Deputy Director of the Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhao Haibin, Research Fellow and Director of the Department of Planetary Science and Deep Space Exploration, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Tang Dalin, Vice President and Deputy Editor-in-Chief ofChina Petroleum Enterprisemagazine; Weng Jingbo, Associate Professor of Central South University and Director of the Academician Workstation and Postdoctoral Mobile Station of Hunan Jishan High-Tech Co., Ltd.; Wu Dongfang, Class of 1991 alumnus of the Instrumentation major and Chairman of the Board of Huayou Energy Group; Jiao Yanjun, sculpture designer and faculty member of the School of Art, Northwest University; Chang Jiang, Secretary of the University Party Committee; Wang Jinfu, President of the University; and Zhang Mu, President of the University Education Foundation. More than 120 faculty and student representatives participated in the ceremony.

The event was presided over by Cheng Yongqing, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee.

In his address, Chang Jiang pointed out that the naming of asteroids is a solemn, unique and permanently unalterable designation. Discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory, this celestial body will forever etch the name ofXSYUinto the vast universe. This special tribute from the cosmos stands as the most powerful testament to the university’s 75 years of educational legacy and social contributions.The themed sculpture inaugurated and unveiled today immortalizes this stellar honor on campus. It serves as a brand-new cultural landmark of the university, and more significantly, a spiritual pillar for all faculty, students and alumni to aim high and forge ahead steadfastly.He entrusted all faculty and students to remember the university’s founding path and remain true to its original mission; called on the entire university community to build on the present moment and advance the university through concrete actions; and looked to all alumni to work in unison and stride toward a shared future.He expressed the hope that every member ofXSYUwill embrace the vision of reaching for the stars, sustain the fortitude to stay down-to-earth, uphold the original aspiration of serving the nation through petroleum development, bravely take on the missions of the era, strive to compose a new chapter of high-quality development for the university, and contribute greater strength fromXSYUto the great cause of national rejuvenation and the country’s energy endeavors.

At the ceremony, Wang Jinfu read out the international naming bulletin for the “Xianshiyou”Star. He stated that on March 16, 2026, the Working Group on Small Body Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially issued a bulletin, formally naming the asteroid with permanent international designation 513340 as “Xianshiyou” .

“Xianshiyou” is the abbreviated form of Xi’anPetroleumUniversity. This asteroid was discovered on August 13, 2007 by the Xuyi Observation Station of the Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

At the ceremony, Wu Xuefeng read out the naming certificate and delivered an address. He stated that naming an asteroid after Xi’an Petroleum University fully embodies the academic community’s high recognition of the university’s series of educational achievements accumulated over 75 years of taking root in the vast land of northwest China and serving the national energy strategy. It stands as a vivid testament to the passing of the torch and sustained endeavors of generations of faculty, students and alumni. The Purple Mountain Observatory will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with XSYU, and work hand in hand to contribute to safeguarding national energy security and advancing the building of a science and technology powerhouse.

Zhao Haibin presented the basic astronomical parameters of the“Xianshiyou”Star. The asteroid has an orbital eccentricity of 0.317, an orbital inclination of 5.458 degrees, and a semi-major orbital axis of 2.762 astronomical units (AU).Traveling at a high orbital speed of 1.47 million kilometers per day, the“Xianshiyou”Star reaches a maximum distance of 694 million kilometers from Earth and a minimum distance of 132 million kilometers, with an average distance of 392 million kilometers from the Sun.

At the ceremony, Wu Xuefeng presentedXSYUwith the naming bulletin and naming certificate, which Chang Jiang received on behalf ofXSYU.

Subsequently, Wu Xuefeng, Zhao Haibin, Tang Dalin, Weng Jingbo, Wu Dongfang, Jiao Yanjun, Chang Jiang, Wang Jinfu, Cheng Yongqing and Zhang Mu jointly unveiled the“Xianshiyou”Star sculpture.

According to the introduction, the“Xianshiyou”Star themed sculpture has a total height of 5 meters, with a 3.2-meter-tall main body and a 1.8-meter pedestal. The main body of the sculpture is hand-polished, and the surface of the star form is gilded. Inscribed on the pedestal are the words“Xianshiyou”Star, personally handwritten by Academician He Jishan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The entire work boasts a solemn and elegant overall style.

Jiao Yanjun elaborated on the design concept and cultural connotations of the sculpture. She stated that the“Xianshiyou”Star themed sculpture, rooted in the university’s distinctive energy-focused educational strengths and profound humanistic heritage, artistically abstracts and reinterprets the forms of oil droplets and vast nebulae, and skillfully blends the structural elements of petroleum extraction equipment with the imagery of mechanical gyroscopes.

The overall form conveys a sense of swirling nebulae, upward ascent and enduring radiance, symbolizing the striving posture of generations of XSYU: aiming high with ambition, staying grounded in practice, marching toward the sun, and climbing toward the light.

Wu Dongfang delivered a speech as the representative of the donating alumni. He stated that the“Xianshiyou”Star is a star of glory for his alma mater, a star of affection for all alumni, and above all a star of spirit that inspires successive generations to pursue excellence.

From this day forward, the campus of XSYU, imbued with scholarly ethos and sparkling with stellar radiance, stands as a fertile land that bears both the warmth of teaching and nurturing talents and the vision of reaching for the stars, and has become an eternal spiritual landmark in the hearts of every member of XSYU.

As an alumnus, he will continue to care for and support his alma mater, contribute his humble efforts to give back to this nurturing educational ground, and support the university in cultivating more pillar talents for the nation.

Cheng Yongqing presented Jiao Yanjun with a certificate of honor, and Zhang Mu presented Wu Dongfang with a certificate of donation.

Following the ceremony, the attending leaders and guests posed for a commemorative group photo in front of the sculpture.

The naming announcement of the“Xianshiyou”Star and the unveiling of its themed sculpture encapsulate the profound affection of alumni and the ardent expectations from all sectors of society. Embodying the university motto spirit of“Diligent Learning, Earnest Practice and Unceasing Self-Improvement”, the event inspires all faculty and students to pursue truth and knowledge, practice steadfastly for long-term achievements, and boldly scale new heights.

With eyes fixed on the stars and the original aspiration unwavering, this brilliant stellar light will forever illuminate XSYU’s dream-chasing journey of serving the country through energy development and forging ahead continuously.