Shanghai Astronomical Museum

#getgoing2025 Perched atop Sheshan Hill, Shanghai’s highest point at 99 meters above sea level, the Shanghai Astronomical Museum recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Located in a city with an average elevation of just 4 meters, the museum occupies the original site of the Sheshan Observatory, which was built in 1900. Now part of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the museum houses over a century of "astronomical memories," marking significant milestones in the history of modern Chinese astronomy. The Shanghai Astronomical Museum, set in a late 19th-century French-style building, is home to China's first large astronomical telescope—Asia's largest at the time—a 40-centimeter double refracting telescope. It resides under a 10-meter dome that rotates 360 degrees and features an operable skylight. This marvel includes dual tubes, each with a 40-centimeter aperture, designed for simultaneous observation and photography. The museum’s archive houses over 7,000 original astronomical plates captured by this historic telescope. These plates, now digitized for preservation, contain invaluable records of the stars and beyond. The museum also features a Palan Meridian Instrument, which was used to record the exact moments stars crossed the meridian. The modern Shanghai Astronomical Observatory combines two historic institutions: Xujiahui Observatory and Sheshan Observatory. Three years ago, the museum began its largest renovation. With support from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission and the Songjiang District government, the telescope was transformed into an interactive educational tool. By incorporating cutting-edge multimedia and virtual technology, the museum aims to showcase the latest achievements in lunar and Martian exploration, the Beidou Navigation System, and fundamental astronomical research. With an annual footfall of 250,000 visitors, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum is evolving to connect its rich history with the future of astronomy, inspiring generations to reach for the stars.