Architectural Marvel
Designed by Xing Tonghe, the museum's structure embodies ancient Chinese cosmology with three symbolic elements:
- Round Skylight: Projects sunlight like a sundial, forming perfect circles during solstices
- Inverted Dome: 30m-diameter sphere representing Earth (scaled to nearby Dishui Lake as "Sun")
- Spiral Form: Main building's curves trace planetary orbits, rising ≤24m to preserve sightlines
Core Exhibitions
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"Home" Gallery:
- Features a suspended 3D Earth with real-time weather visuals
- Displays 70 meteorites including Mars/Vesta samples
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"Cosmos" Gallery:
- "Time Machine" VR experience simulates 13.8B-year universe history
- Interactive black hole demonstration using biometric feedback
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"Odyssey" Gallery:
- Life-size Tianhe space station module replica
- Chang'e-5 lunar soil (9mg sample) under crystal magnification
Cutting-Edge Facilities
- Solar Tower: Adaptive-optics telescope streams live sunspot imagery
- Dome Theater: 8K laser projection with 7.1 surround sound
- Night Observations: China's largest public telescope (1m aperture)
Visitor Guide (2025)
- Hours: 9:30-16:00 (last entry 15:00), closed Mon
- Tickets: Free (max 8,000/day); reserve via WeChat "上海天文馆"
- Access: Metro Line 16 to Dishui Lake Station (90min from downtown)
Global Recognition
- 2022 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement
Nearby: Dishui Lake (200m) and Lingang Special Area attractions.
