By Jin Yingying
On April 27, the “Shen Kuo Smart Education Observatory”, named after Shen Kuo (1031–1095), a renowned scientist from Hangzhou in the Song Dynasty, was officially inaugurated in Baizhang town within Hangzhou’s Yuhang district.
Positioned on a hill behind Baizhang Town Central Primary School, this innovative observatory occupies three retractable container units spanning 30 square meters--approximately the size of an average room. Unlike traditional observatories, this modular “box” represents China's first intelligent public science education base, integrating six major capabilities: radio teaching, satellite imagery reception, high-precision observation of the Chinese Space Station and satellites, planetary imaging, deep space photography, and meteor monitoring.
Developed by a team of Hangzhou programmers, the observatory was inspired by their previous volunteer teaching experiences. They founded a public welfare group called “Launch to the Sky”, educating children about aerospace through activities.
Launched in May 2023, the observatory not only serves the local community in Baizhang but also offers advanced astronomical education to primary and secondary students nationwide.
With no teacher required, children can capture stellar images anytime and from any location. Additionally, the use of digital avatars as instructors enhances the learning experience, making it more engaging and interactive.