Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory

The Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences named after N. Tusi was established in 1959, on the basis of the Astrophysics Sector and its Pirgul Astronomical Station, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of Azerbaijan. The astronomical expedition, which was established for the study of astroclimate in a number of regions of Azerbaijan, started to operate in 1927. Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh, Kalbajar, Lachin, Shamakhi, Khizi, etc. works were carried out in the direction of choosing a suitable and convenient place for the establishment of an astronomical observatory in the future in separate stations of the regions. As a result of the conducted research, in 1953, it is planned to build an observation base, and later an observatory, in Pirgulu area of ​​Shamakhi region. The observatory operates as the Department of Astrophysics (1954) within the Institute of Physics and Mathematics of the EA Azerbaijan, and later as the Astrophysics Sector of the Academy of Sciences (1956). Since 1960, Azerbaijan has been included in the EA structure as an independent scientific-research institute.


Academician H.F. Sultanov, who made great contributions to the establishment of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, worked as the director of the observatory in 1960-1981. In 1953-59, in addition to astronomical observations, the design of the future observatory, the training of personnel specializing in astronomy, the provision of telescopes and equipment, the structure of the observatory, etc. Serious work is being done on the issues. In 1957, the first telescope was built at the Pirgulu Astronomical Station (Chromosphere-Photosphere Solar Telescope). In 1959, a 200-mm photoelectric telescope was put into use, and through it, the issue of studying the astroclimate of the area was solved. In the following years: Horizontal Solar Telescope (1962), AST-452 telescope (1964), AZT-8 telescope (1970), "Seyss-600" (1980) telescope were commissioned. The purchase of a 2-meter telescope (manufactured by the German Democratic Republic "Karl Seyss" company) and its commissioning in September 1966 is of particular importance in the supply of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory. The former president of Azerbaijan EA, the late academician Yusif Mammadaliyev, the vice-president of the Academy, the people's poet Samad Vurgu played a special role in the purchase and operational construction of this famous optical telescope, which is considered not only the pride of the SARC, but also the flag bearer of experimental science of Azerbaijan.


In 1960-1980, intensive astrophysical observations were organized in the Shamakhi Observatory. In the same years, great attention was paid to the training of astrophysics specialists. For this purpose, in 1976, under the special instructions of our great leader Heydar Aliyev, the Department of Astrophysics was established at the Azerbaijan State University. Later, that department played an important role in the training of qualified personnel. In 1981, by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory was named after the genius astronomer of Azerbaijan, Nasireddin Tusi. The Batabat Department of the SCAR (1973) and the Aghdara Astronomical Station (1997) (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) were established under the observatory. In 2002, it was transferred to the Nakhchivan Division of the Azerbaijan MEA, established by the decision of the President of the Republic, and now operates as an independent observatory. The Department of Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory is also organized in Baku City, where theoretical researchers and experts living in the capital work. BSC is of special importance in the coordination of the activity of the observatory and its interactions with other structures and institutions of ANAS. Dissertation defenses, regular scientific seminars are held here, scientific collections of the observatory are collected and its official website is managed.


A museum of the history of astronomy operates in the Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory. The museum plays an important role in promoting the observatory and astronomy as a whole. Due to the achievements in the development of astronomy in Azerbaijan, the International Astronomical Union gave the names "Azerbaijan", "SHAR", "Nizami", "Javid", "Muslim Magomayev", "Tusi", "Ayyubguliev" to newly discovered asteroids in 1970-2011. A crater on the planet Mercury was named after Nizami, a crater on Mars was named after Nadir Ibrahimov, a late employee of SAR, and a crater on the Moon was named after Nasireddin Tusi. Currently, 13 of the names given to small celestial bodies and planetary craters are related to Azerbaijan. All this, without a doubt, is the result of the growing fame and reputation of Azerbaijani astronomy. Scientists and specialists trained in the Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory are successfully continuing their activities in the scientific institutions of many countries of the world, including the USA, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. The observatory also plays an important role in the promotion of Azerbaijani science. Among the many foreign guests who came here, the arrival of heads of state, ministers, diplomats, deputies, outstanding scientists, including Nobel Prize laureates, Academy presidents is of particular importance.