Wang Shouguan facts for kids

Wang Shouguan (Chinese: 王绶琯; January 15, 1923 – January 28, 2021) was a very important Chinese astronomer. He is known as one of the people who helped start modern astrophysics and radio astronomy in China. Astrophysics is the study of stars and planets using physics. Radio astronomy uses radio waves to study objects in space. He was also the president and honorary president of the Chinese Astronomical Society. He served as a representative in China's National People's Congress for many years, helping to make decisions for his country.

Life and Early Studies

Wang Shouguan was born in Fuzhou, Fujian, China, on January 15, 1923. His uncle worked in the Chinese Navy. When Wang was 13, in 1936, he joined the Mawei Naval School.

He first studied how to navigate ships. Navigation is the science of planning and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle. Later, he switched to studying shipbuilding. This change happened because he had myopia, which means he was nearsighted.

After finishing school in 1943, he worked in a factory for one year. In 1945, he went to the United Kingdom to continue his studies. He attended the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, where he focused on shipbuilding.

In 1950, Wang decided to change his path again. He switched from shipbuilding to astronomy. Soon after, he was hired as an assistant astronomer at the University of London. This was the start of his amazing career in space science.

Return to China and Discoveries

Wang Shouguan returned to China in 1953. He began working at several important observatories. These included the Purple Mountain Observatory, Xujiahui Observatory, and Beijing Astronomical Observatory. Observatories are places with telescopes and other equipment to study space.

In 1981, he became a leader in the Department of Mathematical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This is a very important science organization in China. He became the director of this department in 1994.

Wang's contributions to astronomy were highly recognized. In October 1993, an asteroid was named "Wangshouguan" after him. This was a great honor for his work. The asteroid's international code is 3171.

Wang Shouguan passed away on January 28, 2021, in Beijing, China. He was 98 years old.

Awards and Special Honors

Wang Shouguan received many important awards and honors for his work.

• 1980: He became a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This is a very high honor for scientists in China.
• 1996: He received the Science and Technology Progress Award from the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation. This award recognizes great achievements in science and technology.
• 1998: He became a Member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences. This shows his global recognition in the scientific community.