Georgia's national astrophysical observatory, sited on Mount Kanobili near Abastumani in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and established in 1932 by academician Evgeni Kharadze. Its forested, high-altitude location keeps it away from air and light pollution, and it operates seven telescopes ranging from 33 to 125 centimeters in diameter, installed between 1932 and 1978, supporting research across astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric studies.
Facts
Observatory Typeastrophysical observatory 1 LocationMount Kanobili, near Abastumani, Georgia, altitude 1650 m 1 Measuresstructure and evolution of galaxies, variable stars, solar physics, solar system bodies and the upper atmosphere of Earth 1 Classification
Observing Band FAQs
Why is the Abastumani observatory so far from the Georgian capital?
The distance from Tbilisi keeps it clear of air pollution and artificial light.
The observatory stands about 250 km from Tbilisi on Mount Kanobili, at an altitude of 1650 m near the town of Abastumani. The distance is deliberate: it is far enough from air pollution and artificial illumination to give a dark sky with excellent atmospheric conditions. It was the first high mountain observatory in the Soviet Union.
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Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Sources
1. Abastumani Observatory, Georgia - UNESCO Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy
Description
The Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, founded in 1932 by the Academian Evgeni Kirillovich Kharadze, is an institution of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.
Location description
on Mount Kanobili in the Caucasus at an altitude of 1650m near the town of Abastumani
Founding statement
The Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, founded in 1932 by the Academian Evgeni Kirillovich Kharadze, is an institution of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.
Research programs
the structure and evolution of galaxies, variable stars (photometric and spectrographic observations), solar physics, the Sun and the solar system bodies, investigations of the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere, and the history of astronomy.
Telescope list, Zeiss refractor entry
40-cm-Zeiss Refractor (1936/37)
View the SourceAbastumani Astrophysical Observatory (Wikipedia)
In Group: Optical Observatories of Asia and the Middle East, Lead sentenceQuote, In Group: Optical Observatories of Asia and the Middle East, Lead sentence
Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory (GENAO) was founded in 1932 by Academician Evgeni Kharadze on Mount Kanobili, near the Abastumani resort in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of southeastern Georgia.
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