Project Leader: Zhaoxiang Qi

The members of the project group:Guangli Wang, Jinling Li, Li Guo, Shilong Liao, Xiaofen Zhao, Liang Li, Zhibin Zhang, Nianchuan Jian, Zhengxiong Sun, Cong Liu, Chengkai Wan

Main research directions:

Astronomy is a discipline primarily focused on observing and explaining the material state and evolution of celestial bodies. It can be divided into two basic branches: observational astronomy and theoretical astronomy. Wherein observational astronomy utilizes various astronomical instruments and technologies to obtain various types of information in terms of celestial bodies ('knowing their nature'). Theoretical astronomy, on the other hand, uses mathematical and physical/chemical theories as basic tools,  which combines the data obtained from observational astronomy to analyze and explain the evolution laws of celestial bodies ('knowing why'). Astrometry mainly measures the geometric information of celestial bodies (including parameters such as three-dimensional position, three-dimensional motion velocity, size and shape of celestial bodies), and together with photometric and spectral measurements of celestial bodies, which forms observational astronomy and provides data for theoretical astronomical research. The close cooperation with upstream (astronomical instruments and technology) and downstream (theoretical astronomy research and the requirements of applications in national defense and aerospace fields) is a prerequisite for the sustainable development of astrometry. The following figure shows the three levels of astronomy.