Eagerly, scientists work to unlock the universe’s secrets at the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS. This is a place where stars are not just distant lights. They are puzzles waiting to be solved.
Founded in 2001 the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS resulted from merging four observatories. These observatories belonged to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Three observing stations and one research center also joined. The headquarters are in Beijing. They reside on the former Beijing Astronomical Observatory site.
The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS boasts seven research departments. Optical Astronomy studies light from celestial bodies. Radio Astronomy explores radio waves. Galactic Astronomy & Cosmology studies galaxies. The Moon & Deep Space Detection department focuses on lunar exploration. Space Science explores space phenomena. Solar Astrophysics researches the sun. Finally, Applied Astronomy finds practical uses for astronomical knowledge.
Here at the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS several instruments help scientists. There is a 2.16m optical telescope. A 50m radio telescope is also present. The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopy Telescope or LAMOST is a powerful tool. The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope or FAST is one of the largest. Soon the China Space Station Telescope or CSST will join their arsenal.
The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS also has direct subordinate units. The Yunnan Observatories studies the stars in Yunnan Province. The Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory explores the skies in Xinjiang. The Changchun Observatory resides in Jilin Province. The Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics & Technologies develops new instruments.
Observing stations are scattered across China. The Xinglong station observes optical and infrared light. The Huairou station focuses on solar activity. The Miyun station tracks radio waves and satellite data. Further afield are the Mingantu and Wulasitai stations. The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS even has a station in South America.
In 2019, FAST observed fast radio bursts. This revealed that FRBs originate within magnetospheres. In 2020, FAST observed another FRB event. This one came from magnetar SGR J1935+2154. Research showed a low correlation between FRBs and magnetar X-ray bursts.
Also in 2020, the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS simulated dark matter haloes. This simulation showed dark matter structures. It ranged from Earth-sized to cosmological scales. This provides a detailed universe structure under the L-CDM model.
The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS collaborates internationally. They participate in the Square Kilometre Array or SKA. They are involved in the Thirty Meter Telescope or TMT. They contribute to the Herschel Space Observatory. They also work on the Beijing-Arizona Sky Survey or BASS. The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS also collaborates on FAST and future projects like the Einstein Probe and CSST.
The National Astronomical Observatories, CAS publishes Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. This allows them to share discoveries. Here at the National Astronomical Observatories, CAS you witness a commitment to unlocking the universe’s secrets. It is a testament to human curiosity. It is a beacon for future generations of stargazers.