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

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

Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...

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 the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Purple Mountain Observatory and National ...

, 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 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, southwestern China. FAST ...

(FAST) in China. He was an

IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; , UAI) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach, education, and developmen ...

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, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

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. Funct ...

on 25 September 2018 (). He was granted the titles "Model of our Times" and "Reform Pioneer" 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 in Massachusetts Physicists from Jilin 20th-century Chinese astronomers