Due to increased levels of light pollution in Nanjing, China’s oldest observatory, Purple Mountain Observatory, can no longer be used at night. Media sources have stated that air pollution is responsible for reducing the ability of observation staff in their work.
However, experts of the observatory have stated that the main culprit is urban lighting, which is a result of the rapid urbanization of Nanjing’s Xuyi county. Zhang Yang, an observatory staff member, stated that the observatory has been unable to meet observation standards since the 1980s, “People look up at the sky but cannot even see the Milky Way or North Star, let alone conduct scientific observation.”
Located in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing, Jiangsu, the observatory had new sites added in 1999 in Qinghai, Yunnan, and Jiangsu provinces. However, experts fear that these sites will also be rendered useless before long, states Wang Sichao a researcher at the observatory, “We may have to give up the site in less than 20 years.”
Purple Mountain Observatory is located on the third peak of Purple Mountain in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing. Founded in 1928 and run under the administration of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, The observatory was the very first one to be built in mainland China. It’s historic role in China’s astronomic research has made this observatory known as “the cradle of Chinese astronomy”. Most astronomical branches and research centers in China are actually under the ownership of Purple Mountain observatory. Today there are eight divisions that are coordinated and run by the observatory.
