National Astronomical Observatories of China

The National Astronomy Observatory of China (NAOC, the acronym was officially claimed as standing for National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese: 国家こっか天文台てんもんだい; pinyin: Guójiā Tiānwéntái) was founded on April 25, 2001 through the merging of four CAS observatories, three CAS observing stations and one CAS research centre. The Headquarters of the NAOC are situated in the northern suburbs of Beijing on the site of the former Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO), and take responsibility for all matters relating to the former BAO. The reformation of management structure imitated the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) and National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) of USA and National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

Subordinate units

CAS observatories

• Beijing Astronomical Observatory, Beijing
• Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Shanghai
• Purple Mountain Observatory, Nanjing
• Yunnan Astronomical Observatory, Kunming
• Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory, Urumuqi

CAS observing stations

• Changchun Artificial Satellite Observatory, Changchun
• Huairou Solar Observing Station

CAS research centres

• Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Nanjing

External links

• National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences