"Golden Girls" on Beijing Street

A Brief Tour to the Ancient Beijing Observatory

Built in the 7th year of the Zengtong reign (1442) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the platform is 14 meters high with eight large astronomical instruments made in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) set up on it. The Ancient Beijing Observatory is located near the heart of downtown Beijing on the south side of famous Chang'an Avenue.

The Armillary Sphere Made in the 4th year during the reign of Zhengtong (1439 AD) of the Ming Dynasty and designed for the coordination of celestial bodies. Originally kept in Beijing, it was moved to the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province in 1931.
	The Celestial Globe Made in 1673 AD(Qing Dynasty) and designed for measuring the time and azimuth of the rising and setting of celestial bodies, as well as measuring altitudes and azimuths of celestial bodies at any time.
The New Armilla Made in 1744 AD (Qing Dynasty) and designed primarily for measuring true solar time as well as right ascension difference and declination of celestial bodies.
	The Azimuth Theodolite Made in 1715 AD (Qing Dynasty) and designed primarily for measuring azimuths and altitudes of celestial bodies.
The Ecliptic Armilla Made in 1673 AD (Qing Dynasty) and designed primarily for measuring ecliptic longitude difference and latitudes of celestial bodies as well as the 24 Solar Terms.
	The Equatorial Armilla Made in 1673 AD (Qing Dynasty) and designed primarily for measuring true solar time as well as right ascension difference and declination of celestial bodies.
The Abridged Armilla Made in the 4th year of the Zhengtong reign (1439 AD), it is simpler than the Armillary Sphere in both structure and operation. It was moved to the Purple Mountain Observation in Nanjing at 1931.
	The Gnomon of the Ming Dynasty Made between the 2nd year and the 7th year of the Zhengtong reign (1437-1442) of the Ming Dynasty and designed for determining the length of a tropical year and the 24 Solar Terms.
The Quadrant Made in 1673 AD and designed for measuring altitudes or zenith distances of celestial bodies.
	The Sextant Made in 1637 AD (Qing Dynasty) and designed for measuring the angular distance less than 60 degree between any two stars as well as the angular diameter of the sun and the moon.
The Altazimuth Made in 1673 AD and designed primarily for measuring azimuths of celestial bodies.