Boshun Yang studied history of science and technology at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), obtaining his PhD in 2023 with a dissertation on Chinese star observations and the evolution of constellations. He subsequently held a postdoctoral research position at USTC. His current research focuses on the life history of several of the earliest surviving star maps, examining their data sources, drawing epochs, and periods of use. At the MPIWG, he is a member of the Visualization and Material Cultures of the Heavens Working Group in Department AAK.
In recent years, Boshun has located several previously unknown ancient Chinese star catalogs, the most significant of which is the Chen Zhuo star catalog—compiled in the third century from observations by three schools of astrology during the Han Dynasty. Based on this catalog, he successfully reconstructed the oldest known complete Chinese constellation system. Since 2023, he has served as an assistant editor of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage and as a core member of both the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) and the All Skies Encyclopedia project.
