Shanghai Astronomical Museum is inside the Sheshan Observatory Workstation of the Sheshan National Forest Park on West Sheshan Mountain. Its predecessor was the Sheshan Observatory of a European architectural style which was built in 1900. The "Far East's First" 40-centimeter binocular refracting optical telescope was installed on the mountaintop.
In the past more than 100 years, it has taken more than 7,000 precious astronomical photos and played host to a series of popular science activities for exploring the mystery of the universe. On Nov 16, 2004, Shanghai Astronomical Museum was officially established and opened to the public.
Since the Shanghai Astronomical Museum was opened to visitors, it has become one of the important tourist attractions in the core area of the Sheshan National Tourist Resort and an important popular science education base and protected national cultural relic in Shanghai.
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The dome of the Sheshan Observatory Workstation in Sheshan National Forest Park of West Sheshan Mountain, and the Catholic Church close to it were built on the mountaintop, and can capture a whole view of the area below. [Photo from shao.cas.cn] |
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A closer look at the Sheshan Observatory Workstation and the Catholic Church, encircled by exuberant plants over the mountain. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
