High achieving student Faye Jong-Sow Fei.
KUCHING: Next time you look up at the skies, you will be proud to know that one asteroid is named after Sarawakian student Faye Jong Sow Fei.
The asteroid was discovered on February 10, 1999 by the Lincoln Laboratory Near-Earth Asteroid Research (Linear) Team at Socorro, New Mexico and was named 31460Jongsowfei (1999 CV19) in recognition of the 17-year-old’s wins at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
The SMK Batu Lintang student was awarded best of category and first place for her environmental management project – one of the biggest wins for a Malaysian contingent at the fair since 1999.
The orbit diagram of the asteroid named 31460Jongsowfei (1999 CV19) in relation to other planets.
The annual science fair was held from May 11-16 2014 in Los Angeles and was attended by 1,783 high school students from over 70 countries.
Among her other awards include the European Union Contest for Young Scientists Award, and a First Award of US$3,000 in the Environmental Management Category for her project entitled ‘Bio-Waste Materials as Eco-Friendly Mordant in Fabric Dye Process’.
Agensi Angkasa Negara (Angkasa) congratulated her in a Facebook posting July 10 for being honoured by having a main asteroid belt named after her.
Details of 31460Jongsowfei from NASA website: http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov.