Shanghai Astronomical Museum

The Shanghai Astronomical Museum was built in 1872 by Catholic Jesuit missionaries in Paris in the West Sheshan National Forest Park. The treasures of the museum are the 40cm binoculars (the largest telescope in Asia at that time) and the Palan meridian. The exhibition hall introduces in detail the deeds of Xu Guangqi, Matteo Ricci, Cai Shangzhi (French missionary, the first director of Sheshan Observatory), Gao Pingzi (the only modern Chinese astronomer named the lunar crater by the International Astronomical Union), Li Heng (the first Chinese director of Shanghai Observatory), and other scientists. It also shows the invention, introduction into China and establishment of the astronomical telescope in Shanghai The track of settlement.

Shanghai Astronomical Museum

Shanghai Astronomical Museum is located on the top of Sheshan, a famous historical mountain in the southwest of Shanghai. Its predecessor is the Sheshan Observatory with a history of 100 years. In 1872, Catholic missionaries of the Jesuit Church of Paris established the Xujiahui Observatory in Shanghai to observe and forecast meteorology, astronomy and geomagnetism. In 1900, a new observatory was built in Sheshan, and a 40 cm binocular refracting telescope purchased from France was installed. At that time, it was the largest astronomical telescope in Asia. In the last century, several generations of Chinese and Western astronomers spent countless sleepless nights and took a large number of precious photos of celestial bodies. It was not until the 1980s that Shanghai Observatory designed and manufactured a more advanced 1.56m astrometric telescope, that the "century telescope" gradually withdrew from the forefront of scientific research.

Development history

The main building of the former Sheshan Observatory is an excellent French building, which was built in 1898. In 2002, it was listed as a municipal cultural relic protection unit by Shanghai municipal government. However, due to the long-term disrepair of the building, it was dilapidated before the overhaul. Fortunately, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of science and technology and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of cultural relics jointly assume the responsibility of protecting this historical relic and promoting its rebirth. After years of argumentation, Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission officially invested in the construction of "Shanghai Astronomical Museum" at the end of 2003, and listed it as one of the top ten science popularization projects of Shanghai municipal government in 2004 and one of the upgrading and reconstruction projects of Shanghai science popularization education base. At the same time, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of culture and culture has also allocated funds to assist the Shanghai Observatory to carry out the historic renovation of this century old main building. After nearly a year of museum construction and four months of main building overhaul.

Shanghai Astronomical Museum is located at the top of Xishe mountain, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Its predecessor is the European architectural style Sheshan Observatory built by the French Catholic Church of Jesus in 1900. It is the oldest modern Observatory in China. In 1962, it was renamed Sheshan station of Shanghai Observatory, becoming an important astronomical research base. Twenty years ago, the focus of work gradually shifted to cultural relics protection and popular science education. In 1999, it was designated as the national popular science education base. In 2004, Sheshan station of Shanghai Observatory built a unique Shanghai Astronomical Museum on the basis of centenary observatory.

The museum includes two pavilions: "time and human beings" and "astronomical exchange between China and foreign countries". The former shows the basic concept of time, expounds the relationship between time and human society and life, and the contribution of Shanghai Observatory to time work in China. The latter shows the history of the development of modern astronomical science in China with rich cultural relics and historical materials, and introduces the relevant astronomical knowledge. The 40cm binocular refracting telescope built in 1900 is the oldest large astronomical telescope in China, which can be called the treasure of the museum. In addition, there are also constellations square, sundial, international longitude joint measurement Monument and other attractions in the museum park.

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Astronomical exchange between China and foreign countries is an important part of Shanghai Astronomical Museum. The exhibition hall introduces in detail the deeds of Xu Guangqi, Matteo Ricci, Cai Shangzhi (French missionary, the first director of Sheshan Observatory), Gao Pingzi (the only modern Chinese astronomer named the lunar crater by the International Astronomical Union), Li Heng (the first Chinese director of Shanghai Observatory), and other scientists. It also shows the invention, introduction into China and establishment of the astronomical telescope in Shanghai The track of settlement. In addition to the 40cm binocular refracting telescope, which is the treasure of the museum, the museum also displays various astronomical telescopes used in history, a large number of old photos that have never been published, as well as astronomical clocks, nautical clocks, calculators and other subjects more than 100 years ago

Learn about cultural relics. Another important cultural relic of the museum, the Palan meridian, was purchased in Paris, France in 1925 and participated in the two international joint longitude surveys in 1926 and 1933. Sheshan Observatory was one of the basic points of the first international joint longitude survey. The meridian became a historical witness of Shanghai astronomy's international status at that time.

Collection

The Sheshan astronomical library, which has accumulated a hundred years of history, is a treasure house of modern Chinese and foreign astronomical books and materials, covering an area of nearly 200 square meters. There are more than 20000 volumes, more than 600 kinds of astronomical journals and scientific monographs published in 26 countries, as well as a large number of manuscripts, photos, original records, letters, paintings and other cultural relics. Some rare European books published in the 18th century are printed on high-quality paper with watermarks. After more than 200 years of vicissitudes, they are still as white as new. The bookshelves in the library are divided into 10 compartments, which are arranged from the floor to the ceiling about 4.8 meters high. Even the bamboo ladder and wooden stool used to pick up books are old objects.

Large astronomical telescope

The telescope was manufactured by Gautier optical factory in Paris, France. It adopted the most popular cartedu Ciel structure at that time, that is, two similar refracting telescopes were installed side by side on a steel rectangular tube, and the large equatorial instrument was equipped at the same time. The 10 meter Iron Dome matched with the telescope was built by Gilou factory in Paris. The telescope was finally set up at the top of xisheshan mountain, 25 kilometers away from Xujiahui. It was installed and put into use in 1900, known as "the first mirror in the Far East"

Main building of the Observatory

The main building of the observatory is a building with typical European style. The main building in front of people covers an area of about 2000 square meters. Only the west part of the central passage is the real centenary building, while the east part is added later. If you look down at the original centenary building from the air, its shape turns out to be a cross. The missionaries' intention of building the observatory in those days is clear at a glance. In the interior of the building, the unique fireplace, shutter and French architectural layout are also memorable.

Star Experience Hall

Shanghai Astronomical Museum has a unique interactive ball screen movie hall. Visitors can explore the mysteries of the universe while roaming the magical universe. There are two original and exclusive astronomical films in the ball screen cinema of Shanghai Astronomical Museum. The first one is the first interactive ball screen film "journey to the stars" in China. The total length of the film is about 12 minutes, which is divided into four parts: "earth and the moon", "solar system", "galaxy", and "deep in the universe". At the end of each part, a touch mark will appear on the central touch ball, When the audience touches one of the signs, the corresponding small animation will appear on the screen to introduce the relevant knowledge. Although the film is not 3D, it has a strong sense of three-dimensional, which makes people feel the magic of roaming the universe personally. The other film is "four seasons starry sky", which tells us the human understanding of the starry sky, the origin of constellations, the cultural differences between Chinese and Western constellations, and what's the matter with the 12 constellations, with beautiful pictures and beautiful music. Visitors who enter the astronomical museum can enjoy it for free, and the broadcast mode is time cycle broadcast.

Address: 9142 waiqingsong Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai

Longitude: 121.193592

Latitude: 31.094508

Tel: 021-64386191

Tour time: 1-2 hours

Transportation information: Rail Transit Line 9, Nanshe line, Huchen line, Shangtai line, tourism line 1, etc

Ticket information: adult 12 yuan, discount 8 yuan

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., closed on Monday

Chinese PinYin : Shang Hai Tian Wen Bo Wu Guan