Talking about the Development and Prosperity of Ancient Astronomical Instruments

The achievements of ancient astronomy in our country were very brilliant. In ancient times, many advanced astronomical instruments were born at that time, which also promoted the development of astronomy in our country. Today we will take a look at the ancient astronomical instruments on display at the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We also appreciate the prosperity of ancient astronomy.

Puyi, once the world's most advanced astronomical instrument, is an instrument for measuring the position of celestial bodies. Puyi is an instrument of ancient astronomical celestial bodies made up of the theory of Haotian theory, consisting of ring gauges and sights of the corresponding celestial coordinate system. It is used to measure celestial coordinates and the distance between two celestial bodies.

The geostationary theodolite, displayed at the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a ground-level theodolite manufactured by the Qing Emperor Kangxi. It is mainly composed of four parts: ground ring, quadrant ring, column, and speculum. It is used to measure the celestial body's ground coordinates. The instrument is used to integrate the structure of the ground leveling instrument and the quadrant instrument. The difference is that the arc of the quadrant is upwards, the surface of the watch is not clamped, and a method of opening a peephole at both ends of the watch is used to decorate the upper and lower surfaces of the watch. The two instruments are different. It is the only astronomical instrument used by the Ancient Observatory in the French style of Western Renaissance art. It reduces the errors caused by the measurement of two instruments.

The official form is an ancient astronomical instrument that measures using the shadow. As early as the 7th century BC, our country began to use it. It is composed of two parts: "Kyu" and "Form". It stands on the ground and measures the shadows and pillars of the sun shadow. It is called the watch. The stereotype of the length of the shadows is called "Kyu." The main function of the gauge is to determine where the winter solstice is, and then determine the length of the return year. In addition, the orientation and the solar term can be determined by observing the changes in the surface appearance.

Jian Yi, the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, displays the copy of the Ming Dynasty instrument in the 2nd year of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1437). Jianyi is an instrument for astronomical observation in ancient China. It is used to measure the position of celestial bodies in the same way as Puyi. However, the structure of Puyi is complicated, and it is often inconvenient to observe the phenomenon that rings and rings obstruct each other from sight. As an astronomer in the Yuan Dynasty, Guo Shoujing converted Puxi into two independent observation devices, which were installed on a single base. Each device was very simple and practical, and the entire sky was unobstructed except for the nearby Polaris. Therefore, the ancients called this device a "brief instrument." In the second year of Emperor Yingzong's orthodox scholarship (AD 1437), there was a simplified instrument in the equipment copied by Guo Shoujing. The Qintian prisoners of the Ming and Qing dynasties used it for observation, and later stayed at the Ancient Observatory in Beijing and moved to Nanjing before the Anti-Japanese War. , is now displayed at the Purple Mountain Observatory.