Chinese Astronomy in the Century Transition

Abstract

This chapter reviews the progress made by Chinese astronomy since the middle of the past century, in aspects of construction of observatories and stations, layout of study fields, cultivation of young astronomers, development of equipment, and achievements of astronomical scientific studies. Since the middle of the past century, the government has attached importance to the application of astronomy in social development, state security, and environmental protection, in addition to understanding nature and universe. In the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Purple Mountain Astronomical Observatory was rebuilt in the beginning of the 1950s for expanding the studies on celestial bodies in the Solar System, man-made satellite observations, calendar, and calendar calculations. Subsequently, the fundamental construction of Chinese astronomy went along four aspects. First, for developing astrophysics and cosmology study, Beijing and Yunnan Astronomical Observatories were built in 1958 and 1972, respectively. Second, for astrometry and time service work, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory was built in 1962, upon the base of old Xujiahui Observatory. For the observations and studies on man-made satellite, the Urumqi Astronomical Station and Changchun Man-made Satellite Station were founded in 1957 and 1958. And to develop the astronomical instrumentation, the Nanjing Astronomy Instrument Factory was built in 1958. The nine principal fields that received enhanced support during this period include large-scale structure of universe, dark matter and the dark energy of universe, formation and evolution of galaxies, high energy and cataclysmic processes of celestial objects, formation and evolution of stars, solar magnetic activities and heliogeospace environment, astrogeodynamics, dynamics of celestial bodies in solar system and artificial bodies, observational facilities for space astronomy and space exploration, and the development of new astronomical techniques and methods.