Unwavering Steps on the Celestial Path: He Zhihong, A Dedicated Faculty Member of the Department of Astronomy at CWNU

He Zhihong, holding a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Sichuan University and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, currently serves as a dedicated faculty member in the Department of Astronomy at China West Normal University (CWNU). His research primarily delves into open clusters, galactic structure, as well as interstellar medium and star formation. Notably, on May 4, 2022, under He Zhihong’s leadership, the groundbreaking discovery of 541 new open clusters, christened with the distinguished moniker "CWNU", marked a significant milestone—the first instance of a celestial catalog named after a Chinese university and research institution on the global stage.

He Zhihong at work [Photo via the interviewee]

Reflecting on his personal odyssey, He Zhihong remarked, "As a youngster, I'd often pester the elders with whimsical queries, pondering whether stars were mere fireflies—a jest that garnered its share of laughter. Then, in junior high, my mother gifted me a copy of Hundert Milliarden Sonnen, a literary treasure that mesmerized my imagination. It was perhaps this enchantment that forged an unbreakable bond between me and the cosmos."

"If we liken the vast expanse of the universe to an extended family, then nebulae, those ethereal formations born from the fusion of interstellar gases and dust, serve as nurturing grounds for nascent stars. And star clusters, akin to siblings sharing common origins and ages, unite under the pull of gravity," elucidated He Zhihong.

Distant Star Clusters (in Red): Geometric Structures of the Galactic Frontal View (Left) and Profile View (Right) [Photo via CWNU]

Looking ahead, He envisions a future where humanity ventures into the cosmos, embracing interstellar travel and colonization. Though such aspirations may appear distant today, he remains optimistic that the visionary research unfolding in the realm of astronomy will one day manifest into tangible realities.