Yang Jing positions her camera, meticulously adjusts the settings, and waits patiently for the celestial wonders to unfold before pressing the shutter. For over a decade, this ritual has been a source of unending excitement for the avid stargazer from north China’s Tianjin Municipality.
Yang’s passion for astronomy ignited around ten years ago when she delved into astronomical studies and connected with experts and fellow enthusiasts. Driven by her love for the stars and photography, she embarked on a journey of astronomical observation, primarily within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, also known as Jing-Jin-Ji.
“Every time I look up at the stars, it feels like the first time,” Yang shares with a smile. Over the years, she has captured stunning images of celestial events such as the Geminid meteor shower, all while witnessing significant environmental changes in the region.
A decade ago, photos taken by stargazers in Jing-Jin-Ji often showed a stark contrast between the starry skies above and the smog-laden cities below. The heavy pollution sometimes obscured the heavens entirely, forcing enthusiasts to travel to clearer skies in places like the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
“The air quality used to be poor all year round,” Yang recalls. “Smog seriously interfered with astronomical observations and photography. We often had to drive far from the cities to find suitable locations.” Waiting for a windy day followed by a clear night became a common practice for Yang and her friends eager to catch a glimpse of the stars.
In 2013, the average concentration of fine particulate matter—PM2.5—in Jing-Jin-Ji was 106 micrograms per cubic meter, marking it as one of the most polluted regions in China. However, when the coordinated development strategy for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was implemented in 2014, environmental protection became a shared priority.
“By the time I bought an astronomical telescope in 2016, the air quality had already improved, and the number of nights with visible stars was increasing,” Yang notes.
Thanks to collective efforts, the region’s average PM2.5 concentration dropped to 37 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022. The significant improvement in air quality not only enhanced daily life but also revitalized the stargazing community.
“In the past few years, we’ve been able to see the stars shining more often and in more places,” Yang says enthusiastically. In 2022 alone, she observed and photographed celestial events over 100 times. “Improved atmospheric transparency has significantly increased our chances of witnessing amazing astronomical phenomena.”
Beyond the stars, Yang has noticed broader environmental changes. “The region’s environment is getting better and better. The mountains are greener, and the waters are becoming clearer,” she observes.
Recently, Yang has expanded her astrophotography pursuits to capture deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, most of which are invisible to the naked eye. “There’s so much beauty out there in the universe,” she says, her eyes gleaming with passion.
Yang is eager to share this beauty with others. “I hope more people will look up and experience the romance of the stars,” she concludes.
Reference(s):
Improved air quality gives rise to stargazing in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region
cgtn.com
