Excursion to Zvenigorod Observatory

In 1957, the Astronomical Council of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (now the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences) was charged with creating a network of observation stations for artificial Earth satellites and coordinating their work. Such a network was created very quickly, because preparations for this were underway even before the launch of the first satellite. There is one such station in the Odintsovo district. Clean forest air, the location west of Moscow, the absence of large industrial enterprises – just what is necessary for the successful conduct of astronomical observations. The station was created as an experimental one, for processing the methods of observations of satellites, technical solutions in the design of new devices, as well as for training observers. At the Zvenigorod station, more and more advanced methods of observation were used, which were then transferred to other stations.

There are currently:
The laboratory building and a number of utility rooms, a Vau tower with an opening roof, an astrograph tower (both of these devices are raised to a 10-meter height so that the dusty surface layer of air does not interfere with observations), a pavilion in which 4 tools are installed: two satellite cameras, a laser satellite rangefinder, a photographic anti-aircraft pipe; two towers with five-meter domes.

The tour program:
Inspection of unique equipment, a fascinating story of an astronomer, super-interesting facts, gaining skills in working with night vision devices.