Since the late 1970s, only three types of molecules have been found to form megamasers: water, hydroxyl and formaldehyde. In a recent work, Prof. Junzhi Wang from Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, together with his colleagues, detected both SiO and CH3OH mega-masers near the center of Serfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068

Chinese astronomers have reported the discovery of 28 candidate high-velocity stars, stars that whizz around so fast that they may escape from the Milky Way galaxy. The superfast moving stars are found at distances of up to one third ofthe distance to the center of our Milky Way, with speeds in excess of 300km/s.This sample is the first and largest collection of such stars in the immediate solar neighborhood

2013 April 12, Shanghai 25meter radio telescope, as a primary actor, participated the electronic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (e-VLBI) demonstration experiment coordinated by the European VLBI Network. This demo is specially for celebrating the upgrade of internet bandwidth linking between China and Europe from 2.5 Giga bit per second (Gbps) to 10 Gbps. As one of the first users, Shanghai 25meter telescope experienced the feeling of running on the broadest internet express way. The boosting requirement from the research and education promotes the upgrade of the internet e-infrastructure. 　

After three years’ construction, the Shanghai 65-Meter Radio Telescope is close to its completion. In the second half of October, 2012, the mechanical structure, electrical system, network, control software of the telescope have been tested and they run smoothly. The test experiment was successfully carried out in the afternoon of October 26th, 2012. The astronomers and engineers witnessed the first light.

Chinese astronomers have made important progress in the study of the Milky Way structures. Using a simple bulge model, astronomers in Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) confirmed and explained the existence of an intriguing X-shaped structure in the Milky Way bulge. This research was led by Dr. Zhao-Yu Li under the supervision of Professor Juntai Shen at SHAO. The result is published in the latest volume of Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL) and is already cited by two research groups in the U.S. and Europe.

A huge amount of scientific data has been accumulated by the Chinese CE-1 lunar orbiter. In response to worldwide attention to the Chang’E-1 lunar mission, a series of technical papers authored by Chinese scientists are published in the new special Vol.39 Issue 10 of “Science in China Series G: Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy” on October 20, 2009, and in Vol. 54 Issue 20 of the “Chinese Science Bulletin”, to report on China’s new discoveries in lunar science, as well as new tracking techniques developed for deep space exploration.