Photolog: Nanjing 2 (Astronomy in Winter)
So I went up Purple Mountain with a new friend from the hostel, determined to see the observatory and the museum. Walkng around among the telescopes was an exercise in imagery — almost no English signage to guide us, the telescopes inactive, the place remote and quiet under snow. I got some of my best shots there – composition suggested itself, and I came upon some breathtaking vistas, both indoor and outdoor. I may actually print some of these when I return to the States…
Chinese space posters: Space shuttle art and an image of the Taoist star goddess…
What is this? It’s damned interesting. Chinese aficionados, please drop a line if you can read the poster heading…
I hope you can see the grandeur I saw.
Nothing cute to say. I just think this is beautiful.
As I said above.
Inside the only open telescope chamber… This one was built in the 1930s.
A globe in the snow.
The name of this is on the tip of my tongue… used, many centuries ago, to measure the passage of years, and other movements of the solar system.
A very old star map.
Some shots from the utmost height of the place…
And the telescope there.
Some artifacts inside the museum…
Seeing evidence of the Chinese space-lust was a balm to my soul. I have a lot of grief over how the US is neglecting NASA. The world’s most populous country still looks to the future and sees the future! and on this count I’m rooting for them fiercely.