Editor's note: On July 21, 1986, Zhang Yuzhe, an academician and astronomer of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, passed away. He is one of the founders of modern Chinese astronomy. He discovered asteroid 1125 through observations and named it "China". It was the first asteroid to be discovered by Chinese. He also published China's first paper on the orbit of artificial satellites. Today is the thirtieth anniversary of his death, and I would like to commemorate Academician Zhang with this article.
Heart to the country "China" shines
Zhang Yuzhe was born on February 16, 1902, to a family of clerks in Minhou County, Fujian Province, the youngest of five brothers. When he was two years old, his father died and he lived a hard life with his mother. From 1907 to 1912, he studied at Fuzhou Minglun Primary School. In May 1910, the world-renowned Halley's Comet appeared in the sky, which left an indelible impression on Zhang Yuzhe's young mind. In 1913, Zhang Yuzhe moved to Beijing with his family and studied at Beijing Kifu Middle School and Beijing Normal University Affiliated High School. In 1919, he was admitted to the Preparatory Department of Tsinghua Xuetang in the United States with excellent results. In 1923, he went to the United States and studied in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Purdue University and the Department of Architecture of Cornell University. During this period, he accidentally read a popular science book in astronomy, prompting him to resolutely transfer to the Department of Astronomy of the University of Chicago in 1925, and received a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree in astronomy with honors. This transfer determined the path of his life.
On November 22, 1928, at the Yekes Observatory in the United States, Zhang Yuzhe discovered asteroid 1125 through observation and named it "China". It was the first asteroid to be discovered by Chinese. In the same year, he wrote a poem entitled "Studying in the United States will send poems to his mother": "Science and technology should meet the needs of the family and the country, and the foreign countries should cross the boat." The arc of rambling words marks the British zhi, and the long lack of morning and dusk to live. Milk breeding labor is all loaded, and chunhui grass is never difficult. I like to pass on the bamboo book to a good word, and next year I will cross the sea to write a piano book. ”。
In the autumn of 1929, Zhang Yuzhe returned to China and was hired as a professor in the Department of Physics of Nanjing Central University, teaching courses such as astronomy, astrophysics and astrophysics, and was also hired as a communication researcher by the Institute of Astronomy of academia Sinica. Before returning to China, he visited the Lowell Observatory, the Rick Observatory, the Wilson Observatory and the Victoria Observatory in Canada, and also collected many astronomical textbooks, instrument samples, astronomical photos and teaching slides. In 1934, China's first modern observatory, the Purple Mountain Observatory, was built, and Zhang Yuzhe was hired as a special researcher by the Institute of Astronomy of academia sinica. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, he moved west to Chongqing with all the books and materials he had collected for many years with the Central University.
At that time, the Astronomical Research Institute moved west to Kunming and established the Phoenix Mountain Observatory. In early 1941, Zhang Yuzhe was hired as the director of the Institute of Astronomy and served alone from Chongqing to Kunming. At that time, he was less than 40 years old, leaving his mother and his 8-year-old young wife and two young children in Chongqing, living in an unstable life during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and hiding from Japanese bombing from time to time. Why would he be willing to leave? This was revealed in his later congratulatory message to his wife's birthday: "... Jihadist Fang Yin, dare to enjoy the family? It is a responsibility to step into the sky, and it is difficult to resign from the barbaric trip. The Phoenix Mountain Observatory's research facilities were rudimentary and his living conditions were harsh, and he continued to work with a dilapidated desktop computer and some obsolete instruments. On September 21, 1941, under extremely difficult conditions during wartime, he led the Chinese eclipse northwest observation team to Lintao, Gansu Province, to carry out the first scientific observation of the first total solar eclipse in China.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, in 1946, Zhang Yuzhe led the Astronomical Research Institute back to Nanjing Purple Mountain. At that time, the Purple Mountain Observatory was seriously damaged in the war, the observatory's largest 60 cm reflecting telescope could not operate, some instruments and equipment were missing, and the work was difficult to carry out. Zhang Yuzhe went to the United States again for further study, learned about the new progress of world astronomy at that time, and achieved important research results in more than a year. In March 1948, Zhang Yuzhe completed the scheduled investigation and research work and prepared to return to China. At this time, the Kuomintang government, which had nearly collapsed, had to pay for the return to China that it had originally provided to Zhang Yuzhe. His wife traveled in many directions across the country to no avail. Friends advised Zhang Yuzhe to stay in the United States, and some universities in the United States graciously invited him to stay and teach, but Zhang Yuzhe was not moved. He said: In ancient China, there was a story of Chu Cai Jin, and although I am not considered "Chu Cai", I am not willing to be used by "Jin". With the help of his mentor, Professor Fan Bibo, Zhang Yuzhe returned to China in May 1948 with the United States to zhejiang eclipse observation team. In June of the same year, the cover of the American "Science" magazine published a photo of Zhang Yuzhe.
In November 1948, some institutions of the Academia Sinica were evacuated to Taiwan, and Zhang Yuzhe and some personnel of the Institute of Astronomy temporarily moved to Shanghai to welcome liberation. In September 1949, he returned to Nanjing and actively participated in the reconstruction of the Purple Mountain Observatory. On May 20, 1950, Zhang Yuzhe was appointed director of the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He served as a researcher, director and honorary director of the Purple Mountain Observatory until February 22, 1984. After 1984, Zhang Yuzhe served as the honorary director until his death in Nanjing on July 21, 1986.
Deep ploughing the earth, the stars shine
Zhang Yuzhe has made great efforts for the development of the Purple Mountain Observatory, the construction of various observatories and stations in China, and the development of Chinese astronomy to the world. Under the direct leadership of Zhang Yuzhe, the Purple Mountain Observatory has developed and created sub-disciplines such as asteroid comet observation and research, solar physics, stellar physics, astronomical calendar calculation, astronomical instrument development, millimeter-wave radio astronomy, space astronomy and other sub-disciplines after the founding of New China, and has gradually developed into a comprehensive observatory with astrophysics and astrophysics as the main research field, enjoying a high reputation at home and abroad.
Zhang Yuzhe has made great efforts for the construction of astronomical observatories in Shanghai, Beijing, Yunnan, Shaanxi and Other Observatories and Nanjing Astronomical Instrument Factory, and actively supported the teaching of Nanjing University and the Department of Astronomy of Beijing Normal University. In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhang Yuzhe dispatched backbone cadres to participate in the recovery and development of the Shanghai Xujiahui Observatory and the Sheshan Observatory, comprehensively rectifying and developing China's time and latitude work. After 1956, Zhang Yuzhe participated in the formulation of the national science and technology development plan and drafted the blueprint for the development of astronomy in the 1960s. In 1957, Zhang Yuzhe established an astronomical observatory in Beijing based on astrophysics, presided over site selection decision-making and survey work, took a car, rode a donkey, climbed a mountain, crossed a canyon, and worked tirelessly. In 1958, Nanjing Astronomical Instrument Factory was established. In 1962, Zhang Yuzhe complained to Comrade Nie Rongzhen in Guangzhou about the problems in the selection of the Beijing Astronomical Observatory, which were properly resolved.
Under the recommendation of Zhang Yuzhe, a group of backbones of the Purple Mountain Observatory participated in the construction of the Shanghai Observatory, beijing observatory, Yunnan Observatory and Nanjing Astronomical Instrument Factory, as well as the preparation of the Beijing Planetarium, and became the backbone of each unit. After the development of various observatories (factories) began to take shape, Zhang Yuzhe believed that the Purple Mountain Observatory would continue to lead the above units, which would hinder their enthusiasm. Since 1962, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has directly led the Beijing Astronomical Observatory and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, and other factories have successively become independent institutions directly led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Due to long-term overwork, Zhang Yuzhe underwent gastrectomy in Beijing Hospital in 1963. Even so, he also wrote a poem: "A hundred battles are difficult to fight the blood of the Han, and the three mountains destroy The seat is completed." The measure of the day is not supplemented, and the sick bed is late and bears the favor of the country", feeling that he is doing the revolution of observation, and measuring the sky is not complementary, and the bed is sick and sick.
In 1980, at the age of 78, Zhang Yuzhe led a team of experts to the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai and climbed the Kunlun Pass at an altitude of 4800 meters to select the site for the establishment of the first large-scale millimeter-wave radio telescope observation station in China. Three years later, he visited the Urumqi Satellite Observatory, which was established in 1958 at his suggestion.
In international affairs, from the early days of liberation to before his death, Zhang Yuzhe actively promoted international exchanges and cooperation in Chinese astronomy, and participated in various international activities on behalf of the Chinese astronomical community. In the 1950s, he visited the Soviet Union many times to learn about the Soviet Union's research on variable stars, the sun, and asteroids, and published articles such as "Ancient Achievements and Recent Situations of China's Astronomical Undertaking", "Visiting the Institutional Perception of the Astronomical Research Institute of the USSR", and "Report of the Astronomical Specialty". These have had a considerable impact on the formulation of China's astronomical development plan. After 1972, Zhang Yuzhe, as the chairman of the Chinese Astronomical Society, participated in the negotiations on restoring the legitimate status of the Chinese Astronomical Society in the International Astronomical Union. At the 17th International Astronomical Union Congress in Canada in 1979, Zhang Yuzhe, together with Ye Shuhua, Zhao Xianzi, Yi Zhaohua, and Hong Siyi, made a decisive effort to restore the legitimate status of the Chinese Astronomical Society in the International Astronomical Union. In 1984, at the age of 82, he was invited to visit the United States again and gave a report entitled "China Observatory Today" at the Harvard Astrophysics Center.
Explore new knowledge
Zhang Yuzhe devoted his life to the study of astronomy. His research interests include asteroids, comets, eclipses, stellar astronomy, aerospace and the history of Chinese astronomy, and he has published more than 90 papers, reports and monographs. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of his astronomical work, a delicate HeLian expressed the high praise and good wishes of his students and colleagues for him: measuring the equatorial white path of the ecliptic, deeply understanding this way, praising the right path of the old man; exploring the planet comet star, Dai Yue Phi Star, wishing Zhe Weng a centennial birthday star.
Zhang Yuzhe has always attached great importance to astronomical observation.
After graduating from the Department of Astronomy at the University of Chicago in 1926, Zhang Yuzhe stayed at the Yekes Observatory of the University of Chicago to work on latitude measurement. After obtaining his master's degree in 1927, Zhang Yuzhe used a 60-centimeter reflecting telescope to engage in observation and orbital research of asteroids and comets under the guidance of the famous professor of the station, van biesbroeck, and discovered asteroid 1125 "Zhonghua" in 1928. At the beginning of Zhang Yuzhe's return to China in 1929, the conditions for astronomical observation in China were very poor, and while he was a university professor, he diligently made astronomical telescopes, purchased optical glass from abroad, and polished the optical mirror by himself in the hut in the basement of the school. In 1936, he and Li Heng were sent to Siberia, the Soviet Union, to observe a total solar eclipse, and some of the instruments used were developed by Zhang Yuzhe. Although the cloudy observations were unsuccessful, experience was gained for later total solar eclipse observations.
On September 21, 1941, a total solar eclipse was visible in northwestern China. At that time, during the most difficult period of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the conditions for organizing eclipse observations were extremely poor. Zhang Yuzhe, who recently served as the director of the Institute of Astronomy, was appointed as the leader of the Northwest Observation Team for solar eclipses in China. He and his teammates Gao Lu, Li Heng, Chen Zunji, Li Guoding and other teammates overcame many difficulties, carried various instruments, traveled for 42 days, traveled 3200 kilometers, and risked the bombing of enemy aircraft to observe the eclipse from Kunming to Lintao, Gansu. The observation team took the first total solar eclipse photo and the first total solar eclipse color film taken by Chinese astronomers in China. This is the first scientific observation of a total solar eclipse using modern astronomical instruments in China. After the observations were completed, in addition to proposing scientific research papers and reports, Zhang Yuzhe held a total solar eclipse exhibition in Lanzhou in October 1941, and published "Observations of Eclipses in the Shadow of Japanese Bombers" in the American journal "Popular Astronomy" (p.a.) in 1942. While introducing the hard work of Chinese astronomers, the article also accused the world of the japanese imperialists' crimes of aggression. In addition, Zhang Yuzhe also participated in the observation of the total solar eclipse in the Caucasus acid water city of the Soviet Union on June 30, 1954 and the observation of the total solar eclipse in Yunnan on February 16, 1980, and was the person with the largest number of eclipse observations by the older generation of astronomers in China.
Throughout the 1950s to the early 1960s, Zhang Yuzhe was busy leading the development of the Purple Mountain Observatory and the astronomical work of the whole country, while insisting on astronomical observation and calculation. At that time, asteroids were photographed with a 15 cm refractive telescope, and each photo was taken for 20 minutes. The sunny nights in Nanjing are mostly in winter, and the colder the clearer. In the cold night, the open air guide star is often cold and tired. Although Zhang Yuzhe is the director, tutor, and elder, he has always taken turns with his student Zhang Jiaxiang and other guides, one person at a time, and one observation is often all night. The man was almost frozen, and the water of the pen was frozen, and he could only record it with a pencil. In this regard, Zhang Yuzhe often said: Those who do not know think that they are bitter, and those who know think that they are happy. In 1954, Zhang Yuzhe and Zhang Jiaxiang worked together to calculate and study the orbit of the photographed motion of asteroid 415. Due to the complexity of the calculation formula and the voluminous amount of calculation, in order to ensure that the calculation is correct, the two of them calculate independently, and at each stage, they will compare and verify with each other, and then continue to calculate after the comparison is correct. Limited to the calculation conditions at the time, they used fast electric computers and spent a full year to complete this study. He said: "The tiny o-c is the crown that astronomical computers pursue." ”
The research and exploration of special celestial bodies in the solar system such as asteroids and comets can provide important clues to reveal the laws of the movement of celestial matter and the origin and evolution of the solar system, and enrich human understanding of natural phenomena, especially some near-Earth asteroids have broad prospects for exploration, research and development. After nearly 40 years of observation and research, Zhang Yuzhe and his leadership of the Purple Mountain Observatory planetary room photographed more than 8,600 asteroids and comet negatives, obtained more than 9,300 valuable accurate position data, discovered more than 1,000 new asteroids, and calculated their orbits. More than 100 asteroids and 3 Purple Mountain comets have been granted international permanent numbering and naming rights. These observations and studies have not only reached the international advanced level in terms of the accuracy of actual observation and orbit calculation, but also published a number of valuable papers, established a dynamic numerical model of the perturbation motion of celestial bodies in the solar system, compiled continuous calculation software for the orbits of asteroids and comets (including precise perturbation), proposed methods for studying the long-term evolution of celestial orbits, and calculated and studied the recent orbits of more than 300 asteroids and comets and the long-term (million-year) orbits of more than 40 asteroids and comets. This basic research on solar system objects led by Zhang Yuzhe is systematic and complete, and has won the 1978 National Science Conference Award and the second prize of the 1987 National Natural Science Award.
In 1957, before the launch of the world's first artificial satellite, Zhang Yuzhe and Zhang Jiaxiang cooperated to apply the basic theory of celestial mechanics to study the orbit of artificial satellites, and published the paper "Orbit Problems of Artificial Satellites", which theoretically explored the perturbation effect of the shape of the earth and the upper atmospheric resistance on the orbit of artificial satellites. Its theory was verified in the subsequent measured results and became a classic document of China's artificial satellite motion theory. In the early 1960s, Zhang Yuzhe led the research on the orbit of lunar rockets and published a special paper on "Targeted Hit and Aerial Measurement of the Orbit of Rockets on the Moon". In 1965, Zhang Yuzhe led relevant personnel to participate in the demonstration work of China's first artificial satellite "Dongfanghong", and studied and solved the design scheme of the satellite orbit, the layout of the ground observation network, the selection of the best launch time, the tracking observation and the orbit prediction plan, which played an important role in the successful launch of the "Dongfanghong" satellite. Later, under the leadership of Zhang Yuzhe, the qualitative and quantitative research results were put forward for the various perturbations of China's first equatorial synchronous satellite in the earth's non-spherical gravitational field, and the "Research Results on the Orbit of Equatorial Synchronous Satellites" was written, which was the first paper in China to study equatorial synchronous satellites in a more comprehensive and detailed manner. With the continuous development of artificial satellites and the continuous development of research work, Zhang Yuzhe has gradually cultivated a young and middle-aged scientific and technological team that has both actual measurement experience and theoretical level, as well as the ability to tackle key problems and innovate.
Zhang Yuzhe has also made remarkable achievements in the actual measurement and research of astrophysics. Around 1947, during his studies in the United States, Zhang Yuzhe discovered a new variable star bd-6°2376 at the Yekes Observatory. Spectroscopic binary stars have been observed at the McDonald Observatory in the United States, and his paper "Spectral Observations of W-Type Mating Binary Stars in ursa Ursa Major" was published in the American Astrophysical Journal. Attended the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Boston and presented the paper "The Velocity Curve of a New Variable Star". In his famous book "The Evolution of Stars" (1950), the world-famous astronomer O. Struve quoted zhang Yuzhe's above research results in detail and reprinted his hand-drawn velocity curve of Virgo ah star.
Zhang Yuzhe has done a lot of work on the history of Chinese astronomy. In 1977, at the age of 75, Zhang Yuzhe studied the orbital evolution trend of Halley's Comet and its ancient history, considered the perturbation of the nine planets, analyzed and examined the early Halley's Comet records in Chinese history, and provided several clues to solve chronological problems. In 1978, he published a paper in the Astronomical Journal entitled "Trends in the Orbital Evolution of Halley's Comet and Its Ancient History." In 1982, he elaborated on it in his book "Halley's Comet Past and Present". He believes that if the comet that appeared in the year of king Wu was Halley's Comet, the year was 1057-1056 BC. This research result provides an important clue to the study of the history of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties in China, and has also attracted the attention of the world astronomical community. The British journal Archaeoastronomy (1979, Vol. 2, No. 2), Nature (October 11, 1979), and sky and telescope (September 1979) in the United States have published monographs to introduce and discuss them. Ichiro Tanigawa, a famous Japanese astronomical patriarch, also quoted Zhang Yuzhe's research results many times in the book "History of Halley's Comet" (1984).
Crossing barriers to popularize the masses
Zhang Yuzhe actively advocates and supports the cause of astronomical popularization, and often publishes popular science articles. In 1932, he published an 11-page "False Sky" article in the November issue of the journal Science, introducing the planetarium and planetarium with pictures and texts, and advocating the establishment of a false heavenly temple (planetarium) in the capital of our country. With his care and support, the Beijing Planetarium began to be prepared in 1954 and opened in 1957. In the 1940s, Zhang Yuzhe published a series of weekly papers in the Ta Kung Pao: "Eclipse Observation Is Difficult to Answer", "Commemorating the 300th Anniversary of Newton's Birth", etc., to promote astronomical science knowledge. On December 16, 1945, he published a long article in the newspaper, "Do You Know How Planets Were Discovered?" " to refute and criticize the pseudoscience of "discovering Jupiter with gossip".
Around 1948, the Purple Mountain Observatory hosted organized student groups to visit the station on weekends and watch the stars and moons with telescopes. After 1949, the Purple Mountain Observatory established an astronomical popularization group and determined that every Sunday was a free open day. Although there were only 40 or 50 staff members in Taiwan at that time, they took turns on duty as usual to receive explanations. A group of people's letters has also been set up on the stage, and the people's letters and replies are registered one by one, and if they encounter more special topics, they ask comrades with expertise in this area to reply. At the end of 1949, the Public Astronomical Society of the Chinese Astronomical Society also attached itself to the Purple Mountain Observatory, and continued to publish the monthly magazine "Popular Astronomy", compiling and printing astronomical books and pictures, and assisting in the shooting and proofreading of astronomical popular science films. In a copy of Popular Astronomy, adapted by the company, Zhang Yuzhe wrote the preface: "... Most of the observatories are located on the hill. The people guarding the top of the hill there are easily guilty of breaking away from the masses. Several members of the Popular Astronomy Club, who are now serving at the Purple Mountain Observatory, have participated in the work of adapting this popular astronomy. They can probably be spared from self-congratulation and criticism by the masses. ...... Zhang Yuzhe March 1950". In the Spring Festival of 1953, China could see a partial eclipse, and Zhang Yuzhe broadcast eclipse knowledge to the whole country through the Central People's Radio.
Liberal arts liberal arts, Han Yong life
Zhang Yuzhe is a scientist with good literary and artistic accomplishment. His articles are beautifully written, the words are tempered, the battle is neat, and the literature is in science. For example, the "Narrative of the Visit to the American Observatory" uses the antique text, which includes: "Alien Bondage Brigade, Qiu Ge Liu geng, desolate suburban residence, also hanging for two years." Ask the stars to move the bucket around, read the vicissitudes of the world, see the silver Han obliquely, and when the Queqiao Bridge flew across. ......” In February 1980, Yunnan total eclipse observation, Zhang Yuzhe insisted on waiting until the clouds passed on the Phoenix Mountain in Kunming at the age of 78, and once again observed the eclipse, associated with the past of his tenure in Kunming in 1941 and the observation of the total eclipse in Gansu, he excitedly wrote a poem again: "The spring of the earth returns to the Erhai Seashore, and the time is in the air." The southern country is happy to meet the old tourist land, and the spring city has seen a sunny day again. People should have looked at the dry elephants, and tourists can still do scientific research. The two pills cover each other's darkness, and the light is released again. ”
In addition, Zhang Yuzhe has a deep cultivation in calligraphy, seal engraving, painting and other aspects. In his study, the walls are hung with self-painted watercolors, oil paintings and drawings, and the bookcase contains some seals in various fonts such as li, seal, and grass that he carved. In 1962, Zhang Yuzhe wrote a self-proposed couplet with a lily, which was hung in the study for a long time: "Guanhe Han Stars, Trace The Creation of Hongmeng Exploration; Investigate the Separation of The Instrument, phase the Moon Cave to build a spiritual platform." He also wrote this aphorism in middle letters for his children: "Mo Dao people are short, don't say that they are long." Be careful not to think about it, and be careful not to forget it when you are given. Do not do it with small good, and do not do it with small evil. ”
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