XAO Signs Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with Belt and Road Partners for Astronomical Cooperation
As a passage between Europe and Asia, Xinjiang, with its distinctive border and location in the central region of the road, plays a unique and constructive role in forming a platform that connects several countries to enhance synergies for mutual contributions and shared benefits. The Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which aims to promote and enhance contributions to the development of the Silk Road through scientific and technological research cooperation, has signed cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries along the route, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Poland, Uzbekistan, Korea, and others.
On December 15, 2017, XAO signed an agreement with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to develop a perspective bilateral relationship in educational and scientific fields. Under the agreement, XAO has conducted academic exchanges, student training, and other educational and scientific activities with the university in radio astronomy, astrophysics, and other research areas of astronomy.
In 2017, students and teachers from the Physics Department of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University visited XAO for academic exchanges and telescope operation training at Nanshan Station. Researchers from the Pulsar Group, the Star Formation and Evolution Group, the Optical Research Group, and the head of XAO's student department gave lectures to the university students. In addition, under the guidance of XAO researchers, the students operated the Nanshan 25-meter radio telescope and the Nanshan 1-meter wide field telescope, and obtained images of various types of stars. With the joint efforts of both sides, the training and academic exchanges were successfully completed.
Academic training and exchange
From November 28 to December 2, 2018. Dr. Prof. Gulchehra Kokhirova, Director of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan (IA-ASRT), and his team visited Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) at the invitation of Dr. WANG Na, Director of XAO. On November 28, a memorandum of understanding was signed between XAO and the Institute of Astrophysics Ac. Sci. RT on astronomical cooperation was signed in the presence of Deputy Director of Academy of Sciences of Republic of Tajikistan Abdussator Saidov and Vice President of Xinjiang Branch, Chinese Academy of Sciences Chen, Xi.
During the seminar, Dr. Kokhirova and Dr. Na Wang respectively introduced the development, research areas and facilities of both institutes, and the joint research areas will be decided after further discussions. The delegations from both sides exchanged views on research cooperation on quasars, near-Earth objects, astroarchaeology, and site survey, and made detailed proposals for research cooperation.
On November 30, they visited the Nanshan base of XAO, and got detailed understanding of the technical indicators, observation objects, operation status of Nanshan radio telescope and optical telescope, and further discussed the cooperative research topics. The visit has promoted the construction of the time-domain observing network and made new progress in the "Astronomical Silk Road" cooperation.
Signing Ceremony
At the end of June 2017, a delegation from the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO) visited the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Al-Biruni Oriental Literature Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.
During the visit, the delegation exchanged views with Professor Shuhrat A. Ehgamberdiev, Director of Ulugh Beg Observatory, and Professor Abdukhalimov Bakhrom, Director of Al-Biruni Oriental Literature Institute, on research cooperation in time domain astronomy and the history of astronomy in Central Asia. Both directors of the observatory and the institute showed great interest in further cooperation with XAO. In fact, the previous cooperation between Al-Biruni Oriental Literature Institute and XAO has already made significant progress. Both sides will carry out cooperation in literary translation, publication and research.
The construction of "One Belt One Road" is currently underway, which has brought about brilliant results in economic, security and cultural cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. Ulugh Beg Observatory and Al-Biruni Oriental Literature Institute have excellent research strength and intensive geographical characteristics. In particular, Al-Biruni Oriental Literature Institute is an organization that is unparalleled in collecting ancient documents in Central Asia. The visit has promoted the cooperation between the Astronomical Research Institute of Uzbekistan and XAO, and laid a good foundation for future exchanges and cooperation.
Introducing the work of XAO
1-m Telescope of Maidanak Observatory
The Updated 1-m Telescope which has been cooperatively construct with XAO
