Historical Evolution of National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences

The pilot project of knowledge innovation of China Academy of Sciences started at 1998. According to the deployment of China Academy of Sciences to deepen the reform of science and technology system and build a national knowledge innovation base, astronomical bases have been included in the first batch of knowledge innovation bases through the efforts of the astronomical community. At that time, the layout of astronomical research in China was concentrated in five stations, three stations and one center, among which "five stations" were: Beijing Observatory, Shanghai Observatory, Zijinshan Observatory, Yunnan Observatory and Shaanxi Observatory; The "three stops" are: Urumqi Railway Station, Changchun Satellite Observatory and Guangzhou Satellite Observatory; "One Center" is Nanjing Astronomical Instrument Center.

1On April 6th, 999, China Academy of Sciences decided to establish the National Astronomical Observation Center on the basis of five stations, three stations and one center.

The orientation of the National Astronomical Observation Center is: coordinating the future astronomical development of the Academy of Sciences, the operation of large and medium-sized observation instruments and equipment, and the establishment and implementation of large-scale scientific engineering projects; Establish an astronomical research network, with the astronomical observation center responsible for the macro coordination and guidance of scientific research, and the research work is still distributed in various astronomical stations and centers jointly established with universities for management and implementation; By the end of 2000, with the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Astronomical Observatory and several astronomical research institutions will be established to form a new astronomical research system of China Academy of Sciences.

1On April 23rd, 999, the National Astronomical Observation Center (with Beijing Observatory as its headquarters) held its inaugural meeting and listing ceremony; On May 19, 2009, Ai Guoxiang was appointed as the director of the National Astronomical Observation Center, and Wang Yi, Yan Jun were appointed as the deputy directors.

The National Astronomical Observation Center has established nine research fields, including the large-scale structure of the universe, supported five observation bases and 28 innovative research groups, organized the open recruitment and appointment of the first batch of chief researchers and researchers of the National Astronomical Observation Center, initiated the annual selection of the "Top Ten Astronomical Scientific and Technological Progress" in China, and formed necessary rules and regulations that are more conducive to scientific innovation. So far, the National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences has begun to take shape. On March 27th, 20001year, the office of the central organization establishment committee approved the request of China Academy of Sciences on establishing the National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and agreed to cancel the Beijing Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences, establish the National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and merge Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Yunnan Observatory, Urumqi Observatory and Changchun Satellite Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences into the National Astronomical Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the total establishment reduced from 102 to 957. At the same time, Shaanxi Observatory of China Academy of Sciences was approved to be renamed as the National Time Service Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the staffing of 72 1 unchanged. The layout of astronomical innovation base of Chinese Academy of Sciences was initially completed.

2001April 2 1 day, China Academy of Sciences officially approved the establishment of the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stipulating that the National Astronomical Observatory is a directly affiliated institution, with independent legal personality and the same level as the research institute.

After the establishment of the National Astronomical Observatory, the former Beijing Observatory was merged into the National Astronomical Observatory, and its legal person status was revoked. Yunnan Observatory, Urumqi Observatory and Changchun Satellite Observatory were merged into the National Astronomical Observatory, and were no longer listed as institutions directly under the China Academy of Sciences, but became institutions under the National Astronomical Observatory, retaining their original levels and having legal personality; Nanjing Astronomical Instrument Development Center has been transformed into a scientific and technological enterprise, in which the Astronomical Optical Technology Laboratory has been transformed into Nanjing Astronomical Optical Technology Research Institute, and it has also become a public institution with legal personality under the National Astronomical Observatory. Guangzhou Satellite Observatory was cancelled, and 70 people were transferred to Guangzhou Energy Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Purple Mountain Observatory of China Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Observatory have a long history of undertaking major national scientific and technological projects and topics in China, and have great influence in the world. They continue to retain the legal person status of institutions directly under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and their main disciplines, large-scale equipment operation and observation base construction are all under the macro coordination and guidance of the National Astronomical Observatory.