An asteroid discovered by a Hong Kong-born astronomer has been named after Ho Wai-ho, a firefighter who died battling a blaze at a housing complex in Hong Kong in 2025. The asteroid, designated 2025 XH1, was found by astronomer Dr. William Kwong Yu Yeung, who proposed the name to honor Ho's sacrifice.
The fire at the Lai Chi Kok housing complex on April 10, 2025, killed 168 people, including Ho Wai-ho, who was 37 years old. Ho was a firefighter with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department and died while rescuing residents from the burning building.
The naming was approved by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which announced it on June 15, 2026. The asteroid is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Dr. Yeung, who discovered the asteroid from his observatory in Arizona, said he wanted to ensure Ho's bravery would be remembered for generations. The asteroid's name will appear in astronomical databases and star charts.
