Gaomeigu Observatory in Lijiang
Overview
The Lijiang Observatory (中科院云南天文台丽江观测站/丽江铁甲山高美古天文台) is situated on the summit of Tiejia Mountain (铁甲山) in Yulong County (玉龙县), Lijiang (丽江), Yunnan Province (云南省), at an elevation of 3,200 meters. It covers an area of 261 acres.
Structure
The observatory includes two campuses: the Yulong County Urban Campus (玉龙县城园区) and the Gaomeigu Campus (高美古园区). The Yulong County Urban Campus, known as Nanguo Xingdu (南国星都), is located at the intersection of Xiahe Road (夏禾路) and Shangji Road (上吉路), about 1 kilometer from Lijiang Railway Station (丽江火车站). It features an Astronomical Research Center, 3H apartments, and an astronomical plaza.
The Gaomeigu Campus is positioned atop Tiejia Mountain at an elevation of 3,200 meters. This site is characterized by minimal air pollution and dust, offering a clean and transparent atmosphere with almost no light pollution, resulting in a deep blue sky and weak background sky light. Due to its high altitude and thin atmosphere, extinction is minimal, and the atmospheric tranquility is notably good. The low latitude allows telescopes at this site to observe large areas of the southern hemisphere, compensating for the limitations of other observatories in China. The observatory’s location near the same longitude as few other observatories globally makes it indispensable in the international astronomical observation network.
Historical Events
On March 2, 2005, the central equipment for the Gaomeigu Observatory arrived in Yunnan for installation, including the largest astronomical telescope in China, a 2.4-meter telescope. This telescope, valued at over 30 million yuan, was manufactured by the British company TTL and features top-notch optical quality, clear imaging, and high precision in tracking and pointing, allowing it to capture celestial objects up to ten times larger than those seen through one-meter telescopes at other observatories in China.
Industry Reputation
The selection of Gaomeigu as the observatory site sparked widespread interest among astronomers both domestically and internationally. Many astronomers have visited Gaomeigu, drawn by the pristine blue skies and the stunning display of stars and the Milky Way at night. The site’s excellent seeing conditions have led many to express their excitement; they have dedicated their lives to astronomy without ever witnessing such ideal night skies and observational conditions. Known for its “clear skies and brilliant stars,” Gaomeigu has gradually become a sacred place for astronomers worldwide.
Equipment and Facilities
The observatory hosts four optical telescopes, including:
- A 2.4-meter telescope, the largest general-purpose optical telescope in East Asia, known for its optical image quality, imaging resolution, and pointing and tracking systems.
- A 1.8-meter telescope, serving as a test platform for adaptive optics technology, equipped with China’s most advanced adaptive optics system.
- The BOOTES-4 telescope, a 60 cm fully automatic telescope part of the global observational system.
- The TAT telescope from Tsinghua University (清华大学), dedicated to global asteroseismic monitoring.
Additionally, the observatory includes a GPS reference station, a coating room with a 3.2-meter vacuum coater, a comprehensive building, an expert building, and an office building located on Xiahe Road in the new Yulong County urban area.
How to Get There
To reach Lijiang Observatory, visitors can travel from Lijiang City (丽江) to Yulong County by taxi or shuttle bus. The observatory is about a 30-minute drive from Lijiang’s city center. The route provides beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: The observatory is best visited during the dry season, from late autumn to early spring, to enjoy clear skies.
- What to Bring: A good camera for astrophotography, warm clothing due to high altitude temperatures, and binoculars for a closer look at celestial objects.
- Admission: Check for any visitor regulations or guided tour availability before your visit.
