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Yu Qingsong
Yu Qingsong (1897–1978), an astronomer, became director of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy in 1929 and helped survey, site and design the Purple Mountain Observatory.
On an observatory terrace at night, a large bronze armillary sphere stands on a stone base while two people stand with their backs turned facing the view; stars are joined into constellation lines overhead, and a sundial and tiered dripping water vessels stand at the right.
Also known as Yu Ching-sung (publishing name)
- Roles
- Scientist
Yu Qingsong came from Tong'an in Fujian. He went to the United States in 1918, earned a PhD at the University of California, returned in 1927 and founded the astronomy department at Xiamen University. In July 1929 he became director of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and, with Yang Tingbao, carried out the survey, siting and design of the Purple Mountain Observatory; the institute moved into the observatory in 1934. He left for the United States in 1947, worked at the University of Toronto, the Harvard College Observatory and Hood College, and died there in 1978.
Life and times
Dates 1897–1978