Purple Mountain Observatory, Xuyi Station
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
On Paoma Mountain in Jiangsu Province, the Xuyi Station of Purple Mountain Observatory scans the sky each night for asteroids that could someday cross Earth's path.
About Purple Mountain Observatory, Xuyi Station
The Xuyi Observation Station is a branch facility of Purple Mountain Observatory, sited on Paoma Mountain, a 180-metre peak in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province, China. It has been operating since 2006 and is described as China's only celestial mechanics measurement station.
Telescopes & research
The station runs a 105/120-centimetre near-Earth object finder telescope alongside a 65/73-centimetre telescope used for horizontal space debris surveillance. Its main research focus is assessing the threat posed by near-Earth asteroids.
Location & getting there
Xuyi Station sits atop Paoma Mountain in Jiangsu Province, deliberately chosen for its low light pollution and lack of nearby industry or dense population, which keeps its skies dark for asteroid-hunting work.
Visiting Purple Mountain Observatory, Xuyi Station
As a specialised research outpost of Purple Mountain Observatory, Xuyi Station is not set up as a general tourist attraction; anyone hoping to visit should check with Purple Mountain Observatory directly before travelling.
See your named star from here
The near-Earth object telescopes at Xuyi Station are built for precision pointing, the same skill needed to locate a symbolically named star from its coordinates. Bring your certificate's right ascension and declination if you arrange a visit. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the catalogue of stars already named.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
