Nan Rendong (, 19 February 1945–15 September 2017) was a Chinese

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, g ...

Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) and ...

descent. Nan Rendong was a researcher at

National Astronomical Observatory of China The National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC, ) is an astronomical research institute operated by Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Purple Mountain Observatory and National Tim ...

, and he was the founder, Chief Scientist and the Chief Engineer of the

Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST; ), nicknamed Tianyan (, lit. "Sky's/Heaven's Eye"), is a radio telescope located in the Dawodang depression (), a natural basin in Pingtang County, Guizhou, southwest China. FAST ...

(FAST) in China. He was an

IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach ...

member, where he was the Vice-President of Division X (Radio Astronomy) and Commission 40 (Radio Astronomy) from 2003 to 2006, and then the President of both the division and commission in 2006–2009. Nan Rendong died from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissue (biology), tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from tran ...

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

on 15 September 2017. He was 72 years old. Asteroid 79694 Nanrendong was named in his memory. The official was published by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

on 25 September 2018 (). He is granted the title "the Father of Chinese Surveillance System" for his contribution.

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* , includes an interview with Nan Rendong {{DEFAULTSORT:Nan, Rendong 1945 births 2017 deaths 21st-century Chinese astronomers Tsinghua University alumni Radio astronomers Manchu people People from Liaoyuan Deaths from lung cancer Physicists from Jilin 20th-century Chinese astronomers