The reason why Chen Muwu is so sought after by ordinary people around the world is not only because he discovered a new planet, but also because everyone wants to give this new planet a name.
As the discoverer of the planet, Chen Muwu has nearly 100% autonomy and choice in naming the planet.
More than two months had passed from October, when he first used the Northumberland Telescope, to the end of January, when he announced the results.
On the one hand, Chen Muwu wanted to use time to cover up the fact that he had known about the existence of this planet for a long time. On the other hand, he also had his own thoughts and plans on the day when the planet was announced.
January 28, the day when Chen Muwu went to Eddington with photos and orbital data, was the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month of that year according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
This day is the Little New Year in northern customs, while the next day is the Little New Year in southern customs.
Regardless of the north or the south, the common custom on New Year's Eve is to offer sacrifices to the Stove Lord, who has been accompanying the whole family by the stove for a whole year.
In Chen Muwu's original plan, he wanted to name the planet Vesta, so he chose such a day.
It just so happens that in Roman mythology, there is also a god in charge of kitchen fires called Vesta.
In this way, not only Vesta conforms to the Chinese rule of naming Uranus and Neptune after a certain king, but Vesta also conforms to the Western rule of naming planets after Roman gods.
Wouldn't it be nice to kill two birds with one stone?
That night at the Greenwich Observatory, before Chen Muwu had time to put forward his own ideas, Eddington also raised the question of how the planet should be named.
"Chen, although you have the right to name this planet, I think you must also regard this planet as your own child. So you may be wavering and hesitant when it comes to naming it.
"I wonder if we can launch a name collection campaign around the world? This way, firstly, it can further promote astronomy, and secondly, everyone can brainstorm and maybe find a good name. Anyway, the final decision and right to choose , and it’s also in your hands.”
What Eddington said about promoting astronomy is false. Promoting the discovery of this new planet to the world, the Cambridge University Observatory, is true.
Guarding an old broken telescope, I failed to produce any important scientific research for more than ten years.
Now there is finally a big discovery that attracts worldwide attention. As the director of the station, Eddington must take this opportunity to feel proud!
Chen Muwu was happy to give Eddington such a favor. Anyway, as he said, he had the final right to choose. At worst, he would inadvertently tell Ye Gongchao the name of Vesta and the naming ideas, and ask him to write to the observatory too. Letter, just nominate!
So that night, Chen Muwu and Eddington announced to the arriving reporters at the press conference that the Cambridge University Observatory would hold a worldwide naming event for this new planet.
Although it is aimed at the whole world, in the minds of British people, the whole world is basically equivalent to "Europe + America".
That's why Eddington set a time limit of half a month for this naming activity.
Half a month is just enough time for one communication between Europe and the United States, but this time is not enough for even one one-way communication between Europe and Asia!
…
The next day after the press conference, Chen Muwu and Eddington took the train back to Cambridge.
Last Sunday night, Chen Muwu went to the observatory to take the last set of photos.
On Monday, he took leave and slept in his room all day. Then in the evening he went to the observatory to find Eddington. That night they decided to go to London the next day.
So throughout the day on Tuesday, Chen Muwu still failed to show up at the Cavendish Laboratory.
It wasn't until Wednesday morning that he arrived belatedly.
He took a day off, but missed more than two days of classes for no reason, which made Chen Muwu's tutor Rutherford very unhappy.
Although Chen is indeed a genius and has indeed made many inventions and discoveries, these cannot be his capital of pride.
Chen is still young and has strong creativity. If he goes astray, it will not be good news for himself or the future development of physics.
Rutherford felt that he had the obligation to give him a beating and not let Chen Muwu fall down.
So on Wednesday morning, as soon as Chen Muwu returned to the Cavendish Laboratory, he was notified by others that Rutherford called him to his office.
"Genius, you have disappeared in the past two days. Did you make any new discoveries?"
Chen Muwu was surprised by Rutherford's foresight. He just wanted to ask like Wang Baobao in "囧" when he gave Xu Zheng a mobile phone on the overpass, "How do you know if Sir Eddington has told you in advance?" Such words, but his teacher did not give him this opportunity at all.
"Chen, do you think that just after you have achieved some results in physics, you can forget about it and feel carefree?
"But don't forget, you are still young and you still have time and opportunities to achieve more results.
"I will not cite the example of your senior brother Bohr this time. I will take Einstein, who has a better relationship with you, as an example. After he published five papers in 1905 and became famous in one fell swoop, he still guarded against arrogance and impetuosity and devoted himself to the field in a down-to-earth manner. In the study of physics?
"But look at yourself, Chen. When was your last paper published?"
"It's the one about the discovery of nuclear transmutation and oxygen-17 in the cloud chamber photographs by Blackett and me last December, Director."
"Excluding this, what was the last paper you completed independently?"
Chen Muwu thought for a moment and said, "That's the paper on electron wave properties published in the "Annals of Physics" last fall."
"Yes, look, you haven't published a paper independently in three or four months. It's obviously far behind the pace of one paper a month or even two papers a month when you first came to Cavendish Laboratory. many.
"As for the last time you went into the laboratory to do an experiment, it was the visible light refraction you did in the summer, right?"
Chen Muwu complained in his mind that it was obviously my failed electron diffraction experiment using a vacuum pump with substandard vacuum, but he still couldn't find a chance to interrupt.
"Your current academic attitude is very improper, and I am very dissatisfied! When I go back, hurry up. I want to see a new paper written by you before the end of February!"
Rutherford's loud lecture finally came to an end, but just after he stopped, he heard a loud buzzing sound coming from outside the office door.
"James!" Rutherford frowned, and his loud voice sounded again, "What is going on outside? They are not doing experiments one by one. Why are they making such noise in the laboratory?"
"Master, Director," Chadwick pushed open the door after being called. He suddenly found that Chen Muwu was also standing in Rutherford's office, so he pointed to Chen Muwu beside him and continued, "I just sent today's "The Times" The newspaper said that he, he..."
"What's up with him?"
"Sir, he has just discovered the ninth planet in the solar system! Chen, is that you the person mentioned in the newspaper?"
Chadwick exclaimed.
Chen Muwu smiled and nodded.
Chen Muwu and Eddington took the first train this morning and rushed back to Cambridge from London.
The Times, which was published today and was being sent to Cambridgeshire for sale, was also on this morning train.
After getting off the car, Chen and Ai went directly to their respective places, and the newspapers had to go through various procedures such as sorting and delivery before they could finally be delivered to the subscribers.
Therefore, there was a significant time gap between the time Chen Muwu entered Cavendish and the time the newspaper was delivered to the laboratory.
It was also during this period that Chen Muwu was scolded by Rutherford who did not understand the situation.
After reading the news in the newspaper, Rutherford, who had made a big mistake, made a big blush. He embarrassedly said sorry to Chen Muwu: "Chen, I didn't expect you to make a big mistake quietly. Such a big movement came out.
"But why did you go into astronomy again? Is it because you have no money and can't buy a vacuum pump? Didn't the Frenchman promise to buy you instruments?"
Chen Muwu smiled and did not continue the topic.
However, he remembered what Rutherford said before, so he said half-jokingly: "Director, this paper on planets will not be published until March, so do I need to write another one before the end of February?" A paper has come out?"
"Oh, you, you, you always surprise people, but next time before you surprise others, can you give me a notice in advance?"
Rutherford sighed, held his forehead with one hand, and waved with the other hand, indicating that Chen Muwu could leave his office.
After leaving the office and coming to the laboratory, Chen Muwu received more harassment. The first person to bear the brunt was Kapitsa, who claimed to be "Chen Muwu's best friend in Cambridge."
Kapitsa, who had a great time in the Alps, had already returned to Cavendish from the European continent and continued to study his magnetic field, cloud chamber and alpha particles in front of the experimental bench.
He happily rushed to Chen Muwu and touched Chen Muwu's arm with his elbow: "Chen, doesn't it feel good to let the crocodile deflate? Just upstairs, he reprimanded you loudly. We are here I heard everything clearly below, and then I read the big news you made in the newspaper that was delivered today.
"No wonder Paul said you come home late every night. I thought you had a girlfriend, but it turns out you went to the observatory to watch the stars!"
The KBC trio added a fifth member some time ago.
Dirac from the Department of Mathematics, because his tutor Fowler's office was in the Cavendish Laboratory, so after Fowler returned from his business trip to Europe, Dirac came to the Cavendish Laboratory more and more often.
Chen Muwu's roommate was naturally regarded as his younger brother by Kapitsa. In addition, Fowler recommended many books and papers on quantum theory to Dirac, and Chen Muwu occasionally went to the observatory to watch the stars without going home, so he asked for advice. Dirac gradually and passively integrated into their small group.
Everyone in the laboratory, like Kapitsa, temporarily put down their work, and stepped forward to surround Chen Muwu, asking him and me questions about him and the Planet X he discovered. stop.
Chen Muwu suddenly felt that it was not appropriate to stay in the Cavendish Laboratory for a long time today. If he continued to cause chaos again, Rutherford might come out to trouble him again later.
So he rubbed oil on the soles of his feet, and the wind blew tightly.
As soon as he left the laboratory and walked a few steps along the Kang River, Chen Muwu saw Ye Gongchao coming towards him.
Did he come to see me because he read the newspaper?
The fact was just as Chen Muwu guessed. Not only did Ye Gongchao read the newspaper, he also took the time to go to the dormitory's public kitchen and fry a plate of peanuts. He brought them over to serve the food and drinks, saying that he wanted to have a drink with Chen Muwu.
Of course Chen Muwu would not make an exception because of this incident. He turned around and led Ye Gongchao into the Eagle Bar, ordered him a pint of beer, and himself a glass of soda as usual.
Although he saw Coca-Cola sold in glass bottles in the bar, Chen Muwu did not dare to order it. He remembered that the early Coca-Cola seemed to contain cocaine, or was it something else?
"Brother Hanchen, this new planet you discovered has really shown its face to our countrymen!
"Brother, since I had a fight with someone in the alley last time, I haven't been able to get over the feeling I've been holding in my heart.
"When I saw your big discovery on the front page of the newspaper today, I suddenly wanted to understand something. Before, I dressed very deliberately in a Western style, hoping to get closer to foreigners and increase my sense of intimacy. But. Thinking about it now, all these are useless efforts. Dressing to look like foreigners will eventually reveal one's true colors.
"But, if our country can have a few more talents like you, maybe in the future I can walk on the busiest streets in London, even if I'm wearing a robe, mandarin jacket, or even rags, I can still stand proudly. Straight back board.
"Brother Hanchen, you really did your best this time and let us compatriots show off their faces in front of foreigners! I drank this glass of wine for you!"
After saying that, Ye Gongchao picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Chen Muwu could not say anything and could only stroke Ye Gongchao's back with his palms, hoping that he could calm down his excitement.
He briefly introduced his idea of naming the planet "Vesta" to Ye Gongchao.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Ye Gongchao shook his head: "Brother Hanchen, I think this name is inappropriate. Although your star was indeed discovered on Little New Year's Eve, the name 'Vasta' always makes me It feels like a little family style.
"Although you mentioned Vesta, which coincides with Vesta, the god of the kitchen in Roman mythology, I still feel that there is no need to be so accommodating to foreigners. After all, you are the one who discovered this planet.
"If you ask me, just call the name of this planet 'China'. From now on, whenever others mention this name, they will think of you, brother, and our country.
"I remember that there seemed to be a French female scientist named Marie Curie. Did she name the new elements she discovered after her country, Poland?
“At that time, Poland was invaded and occupied by Tsarist Russia, and she did not forget her country in this way.
"Now, although our Republic of China has overthrown the Manchu Qing Dynasty and achieved a republic, there are still many foreign devils raging on the land. Quasi, Jiwan, Ryukyu, and Hagang have fallen, and large areas of the country have fallen. This moment is exactly like that moment. "
"Although there are nine planets in the solar system, only one is named after a country. This country is not Britain, France, Germany, or the United States. It is our glorious China. There is no one before and no one after. Isn't it wonderful? How majestic and majestic?”
Ye Gongchao's proposal touched Chen Muwu's heart. Even at the beginning, the first name that came to his mind was Zhonghua.
Moreover, in the original time and space, the first asteroid discovered by the Chinese was also given the name of China.
However, Chen Muwu also knew that Pluto had been named one of the nine planets for less than a century. When he was in elementary school, news that Pluto was downgraded and the nine planets returned to the eight planets were often broadcast on TV.
If Planet X, which will be downgraded to a dwarf planet in the future, is given the name of China, will it become the laughing stock of others?
A few years before and after Pluto was downgraded, it was a time when the Internet was flooded with public knowledge, and Chen Muwu didn't want to be ridiculed by those gangsters because of this incident.
It is a small matter for him to be ridiculed, but it is a big deal for the country to be ridiculed.
This was a question he had to think about.
So Chen Muwu told Ye Gongchao that the Cambridge University Observatory was recently launching a global naming campaign for the name of this planet. He could write his thoughts in a letter and send it to the observatory.
After the drinking party, Chen Muwu, who had been running around for several days, finally returned to his room. He was lying in front of the square table in the small room, revising the paper on Pluto's orbit that he had written long ago.
He added a paragraph at the end of the paper, pointing out that Pluto's orbit has a large inclination and its orbit intersects with Neptune. Whether it can be defined as a planet is still open to question.
Ye Gongchao's words obviously moved Chen Muwu, so he added such an ending to his paper, which was regarded as a prophecy.
The purpose is to tell future generations that he did not discover a dwarf planet by chance and treat it as a planet, but had already anticipated that this planet might be downgraded.
He can only do this now. No matter how over-interpreted it is by future generations, there is really nothing he can do and can't control that much.
(End of chapter)
