Han Ximin
| Shenzhen Xichong Astronomical Observatory on the city’s eastern coast. Authorized astronomical enthusiasts can control the telescopes at home through the observatory’s Web site.
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| Inside the observatory. Ding Qinglin |
SHENZHEN Xichong Astronomical Observatory officially opened Friday to conduct astronomical and weather observations.
It took six years to build observatory which occupies 29,700 square meters.
The 62.46-million-yuan (US$9.18-million) project started trial operations Aug. 5. It is equipped with telescopes for planetary and celestial observation outside the solar system.
Unlike most astronomical observatories in China such as Purple Mountain Observatory and Beijing Observatory, which are under the administration of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and are used for research, the Shenzhen observatory would play a major role in promoting science as well as conducting scientific research, Huang Jinkui, deputy secretary general of the city government, said at a launch ceremony Friday.
“Authorized astronomical ent
Source： Shenzhen Daily Editor： 洪志科