The group focuses on the development of different kinds of optical telescopes, including laser-ranging telescopes, drift-scan CCD telescopes, rotating-drift-scan CCD telescopes and so on. It is also engaged in the research of new technologies such as Fizeau-type optical interferometry, liquid mirror telescope, speckle imaging and so on. The group has a 1.56m optical telescope, an optical workshop and a mechanical workshop.

        During its history of over 50 years, the group has developed various kinds of optical telescopes, such as a vacuum photographic zenith telescope (1970), a double-speed lunar camera (1970), a 1.56m astrometric telescope (1987), three 30cm photoelectric telescopes (2003), a 1m satellite laser-ranging telescope (2009), four 25cm drift-scan CCD telescopes (2010), a 1m laser communication telescope (2011), and five 30cm rotating-drift-scan CCD telescopes (2013).

        The laboratory has 29 staff members, one Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, one researcher and 8 senior engineers specializing on optics, mechanics, electronics, control software and CCD cameras.