Purple Mountain Observatory Explained

Purple Mountain Observatory
Organization:Chinese Academy of Sciences
Location:Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu
Coords:32.0649°N 118.8297°W
Altitude:267m (876feet)
Established:1934

The Purple Mountain Observatory, also known as Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on the Purple Mountain in the east of Nanjing.

Description

The Purple Mountain Observatory was established in 1934 funded by the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China and administered by Academia Sinica. The longtime director of the observatory from 1950 to 1984 was Chinese astronomer Zhang Yuzhe (Chinese: 张钰哲, 1902–1986, also known as Y. C. Chang).

By the late 1980s, increasing light pollution in Nanjing meant Purple Mountain was no longer viable as a working observatory. It has since shifted its focus to public education, with much of the actual scientific work being carried out in its five branch observatories located at Qinghai (in Delingha), Ganyu, Xuyi, Honghe (in Jiamusi), and Qingdao.

The Minor Planet Center credits the observatory, simply referred to as Nanking, with the discovery of 149 minor planets between 1955 and 1983, while the observatory's PMO NEO Survey Program is credited with more than 600 discoveries between 2006 and 2013.

Discoveries

The observatory discovered the periodic comets 60P/Tsuchinshan and 62P/Tsuchinshan, as well as the non-periodic (Tsuchinshan), also known as Comet 1977 X,, and C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). They are named after the Wade–Giles transliteration of the name. Many asteroids were also discovered, including the Trojan asteroids 2223 Sarpedon, 2260 Neoptolemus, 2363 Cebriones, 2456 Palamedes, and the eponymous 3494 Purple Mountain.

Near-Earth object survey

The Chinese Near-Earth Object Survey (CNEOS), based at the Xuyi Station in Xuyi, Jiangsu,[1] started observations in 2006. It uses a 1:04=1:20=1:80 m Schmidt telescope equipped with a 4K × 4K CCD detector with the drift-scanning function.[2] As of August 2012, the program has observed 149,971 asteroids, found 1,279 new provisional designation asteroids, and cataloged 251 numbered asteroids including five Jupiter trojans, two Hildian, and one Phocaea asteroid. The program has also observed the position of 824 near-Earth objects (NEOs) and discovered four new ones: the Apollo asteroid, and the three Amor asteroid,, and .

List of discovered minor planets (1955–1983)

Minor planets discovered: 149 
see

A total of 149 minor planets were discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory between 1955 and 1983.

1125 China 30 October 1957
1802 Zhang Heng 9 October 1964
1888 Zu Chong-Zhi 9 November 1964
1972 Yi Xing 9 November 1964
2012 Guo Shou-Jing 9 October 1964
2027 Shen Guo 9 November 1964
2045 Peking 8 October 1964
2077 Kiangsu 18 December 1974
2078 Nanking 12 January 1975
2085 Henan 20 December 1965
2162 Anhui 30 January 1966
2169 Taiwan 9 November 1964
2184 Fujian 9 October 1964
2185 Guangdong 20 November 1965
2197 Shanghai 30 December 1965
2209 Tianjin 28 October 1978
2215 Sichuan 12 November 1964
2223 Sarpedon 4 October 1977
2230 Yunnan 29 October 1978
2255 Qinghai 3 November 1977
2260 Neoptolemus 26 November 1975
2263 Shaanxi 30 October 1978
2336 Xinjiang 26 November 1975
2344 Xizang 27 September 1979
2355 Nei Monggol 30 October 1978
2363 Cebriones 4 October 1977
2380 Heilongjiang 18 September 1965
2387 Xi'an 17 March 1975
2398 Jilin 24 October 1965
2425 Shenzhen 17 March 1975
2456 Palamedes 30 January 1966
2503 Liaoning 16 October 1965
2505 Hebei 31 October 1975
2510 Shandong 10 October 1979
2514 Taiyuan 8 October 1964
2515 Gansu 9 October 1964
2539 Ningxia 8 October 1964
2547 Hubei 9 October 1964
2592 Hunan 30 January 1966
2617 Jiangxi 26 November 1975
2631 Zhejiang 7 October 1980
2632 Guizhou 6 November 1980
2655 Guangxi 14 December 1974
2693 Yan'an 3 November 1977
2719 Suzhou 22 September 1965
2729 Urumqi 18 October 1979
2743 Chengdu 21 November 1965
2752 Wu Chien-Shiung 20 September 1965
2778 Tangshan 14 December 1979
2789 Foshan 6 December 1956
2790 Needham 19 October 1965
2851 Harbin 30 October 1978
2886 Tinkaping 20 December 1965
2899 Runrun Shaw 8 October 1964
2903 Zhuhai 23 October 1981
2963 Chen Jiageng 9 November 1964
3011 Chongqing 26 November 1978
3014 Huangsushu 11 October 1979
3024 Hainan 23 October 1981
3028 Zhangguoxi 9 October 1978
3048 Guangzhou 8 October 1964
3051 Nantong 19 December 1974
3088 Jinxiuzhonghua 24 October 1981
3089 Oujianquan 3 December 1981
3136 Anshan 18 November 1981
3139 Shantou 11 November 1980
3171 Wangshouguan 19 November 1979
3187 Dalian 10 October 1977
3206 Wuhan 13 November 1980
3221 Changshi 2 December 1981
3239 Meizhou 29 October 1978
3241 Yeshuhua 28 November 1978
3297 Hong Kong 26 November 1978
3335 Quanzhou 1 January 1966
3340 Yinhai 12 October 1979
3388 Tsanghinchi 21 December 1981
3405 Daiwensai 30 October 1964
3421 Yangchenning 26 November 1975
3443 Leetsungdao 26 September 1979
3462 Zhouguangzhao 25 October 1981
3463 Kaokuen 3 December 1981
3476 Dongguan 28 October 1978
3494 Purple Mountain 7 December 1980
3502 Huangpu 9 October 1964
3509 Sanshui 28 October 1978
3513 Quqinyue 16 October 1965
3542 Tanjiazhen 9 October 1964
3543 Ningbo 11 November 1964
3556 Lixiaohua 30 October 1964
3560 Chenqian 3 September 1980
3570 Wuyeesun 14 December 1979
3609 Liloketai 13 November 1980
3611 Dabu 20 December 1981
3613 Kunlun 10 November 1982
3643 Tienchanglin 29 October 1978
3650 Kunming 30 October 1978
3678 Mongmanwai 20 January 1966
3704 Gaoshiqi 20 December 1981
3729 Yangzhou 1 November 1983
3746 Heyuan 8 October 1964
3763 Qianxuesen 14 October 1980
3812 Lidaksum 11 January 1965
3844 Lujiaxi 30 January 1966
3901 Nanjingdaxue 7 April 1958
3960 Chaliubieju 20 January 1955
4047 Chang'E 8 October 1964
4073 Ruianzhongxue 23 October 1981
4245 Nairc 29 October 1981
4273 Dunhuang 29 October 1978
4360 Xuyi 9 October 1964
4431 Holeungholee 28 November 1978
4562 Poleungkuk 21 October 1979
4566 Chaokuangpiu 27 November 1981
4651 Wongkwancheng 31 October 1957
4730 Xingmingzhou 7 December 1980
4913 Wangxuan 20 September 1965
4925 Zhoushan 3 December 1981
4988 Chushuho 6 November 1980
5013 Suzhousanzhong 9 November 1964
5045 Hoyin 29 October 1978
5198 Fongyunwah 16 January 1975
5217 Chaozhou 13 February 1966
5267 Zegmott 13 February 1966
5273 Peilisheng 16 February 1982
5389 Choikaiyau 29 October 1981
5390 Huichiming 19 December 1981
5537 Sanya 9 October 1964
5538 Luichewoo 9 October 1964
5539 Limporyen 16 October 1965
5709 Tamyeunleung 12 October 1977
5892 Milesdavis 23 December 1981
6 November 1980
30 October 1964
7811 Zhaojiuzhang 23 February 1982
3 December 1981
8126 Chanwainam 20 January 1966
8256 Shenzhou 25 October 1981
31 December 1964
8992 Magnanimity 14 October 1980
9512 Feijunlong 13 February 1966
9517 Niehaisheng 3 November 1977
9 November 1964
10017 Jaotsungi 30 October 1978
7 December 1980
14 December 1974
9 November 1964
14 October 1980
11 November 1964
23408 Beijingaoyun 12 October 1977

List of discoveries by the PMO NEO Survey Program

PMO NEO Survey discoveries: 646 
see

Several hundred minor planets were discovered by the observatory's PMO NEO Survey Program from 2006 to 2013.

18 August 2007
171448 Guchaohao 11 September 2007
175633 Yaoan 9 October 2007
185535 Gangda 28 November 2007
185538 Fangcheng 14 December 2007
185640 Sunyisui 1 March 2008
187707 Nandaxianlin 2 March 2008
187709 Fengduan 3 March 2008
188973 Siufaiwing 3 March 2008
192178 Lijieshou 10 March 2007
199947 Qaidam 16 April 2007
199953 Mingnaiben 18 April 2007
200002 Hehe 6 May 2007
200003 Aokeda 19 May 2007
202784 Gangkeda 29 February 2008
204836 Xiexiaosi 16 August 2007
204839 Suzhouyuanlin 16 August 2007
207681 Caiqiao 16 August 2007
207715 Muqinshuijiao 11 September 2007
207716 Wangxichan 11 September 2007
207723 Jiansanjiang 11 September 2007
17 September 2007
207809 Wuzuze 9 October 2007
210210 Songjian 16 August 2007
210230 Linyuanpei 11 September 2007
210231 Wangdemin 11 September 2007
210232 Zhangjinqiu 11 September 2007
210292 Mayongsheng 6 October 2007
12 August 2007
212795 Fangjiancheng 9 October 2007
212796 Guoyonghuai 9 October 2007
212797 Lipei 9 October 2007
11 September 2007
214883 Yuanxikun 11 September 2007
26 January 2009
27 January 2009
10 October 2007
5 November 2007
25 March 2009
19 May 2007
16 May 2007
16 August 2007
19 September 2009
7 May 2007
229864 Sichouzhilu 14 October 2009
10 April 2007
16 August 2007
9 August 2007
11 September 2007
20 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
6 October 2007
5 October 2007
30 December 2008
16 August 2007
21 September 2007
8 October 2007
19 December 2006
11 September 2007
6 October 2007
9 November 2007
26 January 2009
14 October 2009
14 October 2009
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
17 October 2007
6 November 2007
11 November 2007
18 January 2009
11 September 2007
4 November 2007
24 January 2009
26 January 2009
24 January 2009
27 January 2009
29 April 2009
8 April 2010
3 March 2008
14 March 2008
18 January 2009
6 October 2007
9 October 2007
6 February 2008
19 August 2010
5 November 2007
29 February 2008
29 February 2008
28 February 2008
29 February 2008
2 March 2008
2 March 2008
2 March 2008
4 March 2008
23 March 2009
2 May 2009
18 September 2009
16 April 2007
14 October 2009
23 November 2009
24 November 2009
12 May 2007
16 May 2007
5 October 2007
5 November 2007
29 February 2008
13 September 2009
16 August 2007
9 October 2007
9 October 2007
3 March 2008
24 January 2009
16 March 2009
24 November 2009
10 March 2010
16 August 2007
6 October 2007
8 November 2007
1 January 2009
19 August 2010
16 May 2007
6 May 2007
12 May 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
4 October 2007
16 October 2007
14 December 2007
23 January 2009
19 March 2010
3 April 2010
16 April 2007
7 May 2007
6 May 2007
12 August 2007
12 August 2007
16 August 2007
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
2 November 2007
2 November 2007
5 November 2007
5 January 2008
3 March 2008
2 January 2009
24 January 2009
26 January 2009
24 January 2009
27 January 2009
24 January 2009
26 January 2009
27 January 2009
26 January 2009
16 March 2009
16 March 2009
2 May 2009
13 September 2009
18 September 2009
24 October 2009
10 March 2010
29 February 2008
21 September 2007
6 October 2007
9 October 2007
4 October 2007
6 October 2007
5 November 2007
5 November 2007
6 November 2007
4 January 2008
26 January 2009
27 January 2009
23 January 2009
25 March 2009
23 March 2009
8 April 2010
18 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
6 November 2007
6 November 2007
28 November 2007
14 December 2007
5 January 2008
5 January 2008
29 February 2008
29 February 2008
26 January 2009
26 January 2009
26 January 2009
27 April 2009
10 March 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
2 November 2007
3 March 2008
24 January 2009
10 August 2010
10 April 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
9 October 2007
10 October 2007
2 November 2007
4 February 2008
2 March 2008
4 March 2008
27 January 2009
16 March 2009
25 March 2009
27 April 2009
26 April 2009
18 August 2010
12 August 2007
11 September 2007
5 November 2007
14 December 2007
29 February 2008
27 April 2009
9 August 2010
29 February 2008
29 February 2008
7 August 2010
18 April 2007
11 September 2007
5 October 2007
8 October 2007
9 October 2007
29 February 2008
27 January 2009
15 June 2009
12 May 2007
4 January 2008
29 February 2008
2 March 2008
13 September 2009
18 September 2009
3 January 2008
6 February 2008
13 September 2009
14 October 2009
3 March 2008
18 September 2009
11 March 2007
10 October 2007
19 September 2009
17 August 2007
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
9 October 2007
3 March 2008
24 January 2009
18 August 2010
16 May 2007
12 August 2007
6 November 2007
5 November 2007
23 January 2009
26 January 2009
26 January 2009
23 March 2009
23 March 2009
28 December 2009
10 March 2010
10 March 2010
10 March 2010
10 March 2010
10 March 2010
13 May 2007
13 August 2007
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
5 October 2007
5 November 2007
11 November 2007
5 November 2007
30 December 2008
16 January 2009
18 January 2009
26 January 2009
10 March 2010
8 April 2010
18 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
4 October 2007
9 October 2007
5 November 2007
11 November 2007
5 January 2008
23 January 2009
27 January 2009
27 January 2009
27 January 2009
10 March 2010
23 April 2010
11 September 2007
3 October 2007
9 October 2007
9 February 2008
6 February 2008
3 March 2008
23 January 2009
27 January 2009
26 January 2009
31 January 2009
27 April 2009
11 September 2007
9 October 2007
6 February 2008
29 February 2008
3 March 2008
3 March 2008
24 January 2009
26 January 2009
25 April 2009
3 October 2011
9 November 2007
4 November 2007
3 March 2008
24 January 2009
24 January 2009
27 April 2009
3 October 2007
4 October 2007
5 November 2007
10 November 2007
5 November 2007
5 January 2008
26 January 2009
26 January 2009
23 March 2009
12 August 2010
16 August 2007
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
4 October 2007
5 November 2007
5 November 2007
29 February 2008
29 February 2008
3 March 2008
26 January 2009
20 April 2009
27 April 2009
20 April 2009
9 August 2010
10 August 2010
18 January 2009
21 September 2007
15 June 2009
18 September 2009
24 November 2009
16 August 2007
23 January 2009
23 March 2009
14 October 2009
8 April 2007
3 January 2008
30 December 2008
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
4 October 2007
3 March 2008
11 September 2007
20 March 2007
10 April 2007
9 October 2007
13 September 2009
13 September 2009
18 May 2007
8 October 2007
5 November 2007
5 November 2007
2 November 2007
23 January 2009
16 March 2010
6 May 2007
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
8 October 2007
8 April 2010
24 August 2007
16 August 2007
23 March 2009
16 August 2007
5 November 2007
31 December 2008
27 January 2009
24 January 2009
16 March 2009
10 March 2010
8 April 2010
25 March 2009
5 November 2007
6 November 2007
2 March 2008
26 January 2009
10 March 2010
15 June 2009
16 August 2007
18 October 2011
13 August 2007
16 August 2007
8 February 2013
5 January 2008
29 February 2008
19 March 2010
13 August 2007
1 April 2009
11 September 2007
27 January 2009
3 October 2011
21 September 2007
11 September 2007
11 November 2007
7 August 2010
18 April 2007
9 October 2007
8 October 2007
5 November 2007
2 March 2008
3 August 2010
23 March 2009
11 September 2007
3 March 2008
3 March 2008
23 January 2009
14 October 2009
31 October 2011
23 March 2009
13 August 2007
18 August 2007
21 September 2007
21 September 2007
21 September 2007
27 January 2009
27 January 2009
19 September 2009
10 August 2010
23 March 2009
20 August 2010
19 August 2010
6 May 2007
11 September 2007
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
9 October 2007
21 September 2007
4 March 2008
13 September 2009
13 September 2009
25 August 2009
14 October 2009
7 August 2010
19 August 2010
6 February 2008
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
15 January 2009
9 August 2010
3 October 2007
8 October 2007
2 March 2008
13 September 2009
16 March 2010
2 March 2008
29 September 2013
18 August 2007
19 August 2010
7 May 2007
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
20 February 2007
18 January 2009
13 August 2007
10 March 2010
18 August 2007
14 October 2009
24 August 2011
18 August 2007
12 November 2013
16 August 2007
11 September 2007
5 November 2007
10 November 2007
19 March 2010
10 March 2010
20 March 2007
21 September 2007
5 November 2007
4 March 2008
26 January 2009
26 January 2009
18 January 2009
3 October 2011
3 January 2008
29 February 2008
3 March 2008
8 February 2013
11 September 2007
9 February 2008
29 February 2008
3 March 2008
31 December 2008
24 January 2009
23 March 2009
16 August 2007
12 August 2007
23 March 2009
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
22 November 2011
17 August 2007
16 August 2007
9 August 2010
9 October 2007
456677 Yepeijian 11 September 2007
11 September 2007
18 August 2007
11 September 2007
8 October 2007
5 November 2007
18 August 2010
9 March 2011
18 August 2007
9 October 2007
9 October 2007
8 November 2010
10 August 2010
12 August 2007
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
21 September 2007
12 August 2007
13 August 2007
16 August 2007
5 November 2007
25 October 2009
29 March 2011
25 June 2009
11 September 2007
21 September 2007
31 December 2008
26 December 2013
25 October 2011
25 October 2011
11 September 2007
11 March 2007
12 August 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
29 February 2008
30 December 2008
23 January 2009
27 January 2009
15 January 2009
3 October 2011
25 October 2011
3 March 2008
3 March 2008
20 April 2009
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
12 March 2010
25 October 2011
13 September 2009
3 March 2008
18 September 2009
31 October 2011
19 December 2011
10 October 2007
9 October 2007
5 November 2007
6 February 2008
3 March 2008
13 August 2007
16 August 2007
16 August 2007
8 September 2015
1 January 2009
21 September 2007
6 February 2008
19 May 2010
13 September 2009
11 September 2007
9 November 2007
5 January 2008
6 February 2008
23 March 2009
27 April 2009
13 September 2009
14 October 2009
7 March 2011
12 October 2013
8 October 2013
26 November 2013
4 December 2013
11 March 2008
29 February 2008
25 November 2013
1 September 2013
9 February 2008
3 March 2008
27 October 2009
4 November 2013
3 March 2008
30 March 2011
29 February 2008
24 August 2011
20 April 2009
31 December 2008
19 August 2010
5 November 2007
5 November 2007
29 February 2008
16 March 2009
4 April 2010
27 November 2013
11 September 2007
21 March 2015
13 August 2007
27 January 2009
10 August 2010
8 April 2010
21 September 2007
17 September 2007
13 September 2009
13 September 2009
7 September 2015
10 August 2010
25 October 2011
11 September 2007
11 September 2007
20 October 2015

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Xuyi Observation Station, Purple Mountain Observatory. Purple Mountain Observatory. 26 February 2015.
  2. Web site: Zhao. Haibin. The new NEO survey project - Chinese Near Earth Object Survey (CNEOS). Lunar and Planetary Institute: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors (2008 conference). 26 February 2015. etal.