Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory

Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory (Azerbaijani: [Nəsirəddin Tusi adına Şamaxı Astrofizika Rəsədxanası] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) is an astronomical observatory in the Greater Caucasus Mountains in Shamakhi Rayon in Azerbaijan. The observatory is one of the biggest in the South Caucasus. It is named after the medieval Persian astronomer Nasir al-Din al-Tusi. It is owned and operated by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory
Shamakhi observatory.jpg Panoramic view of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory
Organization	Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Established	January 13, 1960 (1960-01-13)
Website Shao.az
Telescopes 2 m Carl Zeiss Jena reflector 70 cm AZT-8 photoelectric telescope Cassegrain reflector 60 cm Zeiss-600 telescope Cassegrain reflector 35 cm Catadioptric

It was built between 1958-1960 during the Soviet era as the main observing site for the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences which is located 144 km (89 mi) away in Baku. The observatory is about 22 km (14 mi) northwest of the city of Shamakhi. The observatory is at 1,435 m (4,708 ft) above sea level. It has 150–200 clear, cloudless nights per year, which is the reason why the observatory was built at this location. It has a total of four telescopes. Many comets, asteroids and other astronomical objects were discovered with its telescopes.

Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory Media

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  Interior – exhibition hall

Other websites

• Official website (in Azerbaijani and English)