An asteroid has been named in honor of Barbie Hsu (also known as Xu Xiyuan), the late Taiwanese actress and wife of singer DJ Koo.
According to Chinese-language media outlets, including Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily, the International Astronomical Union officially named asteroid number 208663 “Xú Xīyuán” during a recent meeting of its working group on small body nomenclature.
The asteroid was first discovered on April 12th, 2002, by Hong Kong astronomer Kwong Wai Yeung in Arizona, USA. It was originally given the temporary designation “2002 GF11” before being officially named after Barbie Hsu.
Kwong Wai Yeung is known for discovering more than 2,000 asteroids and has previously named celestial bodies after well-known Chinese-speaking stars, including Brigitte Lin, Andy Lau, and Leslie Cheung.
Barbie Hsu and DJ Koo were in a relationship in the late 1990s, dating for about a year before breaking up due to various circumstances. Hsu later married businessman Wang Xiaofei, and the couple divorced in 2021. She and DJ Koo reconnected after more than 20 years and married in 2022.
Tragically, Hsu passed away in February last year. She developed pneumonia and sepsis caused by influenza while on a family trip to Japan and did not recover. Since her sudden passing, DJ Koo has been in mourning and is known to regularly visit her memorial site.
Notably, DJ Koo, together with a designer friend, created a statue in her honor, which has drawn significant attention. The statue depicts Barbie Hsu with her hands clasped in front of her chest, eyes gently closed, and a peaceful smile.
>> DJ Koo ‘Pouring His Soul’ Into Art After Barbie Hsu’s Passing, Says Sister Dee Hsu
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