The Varna Observatory, officially known as the National Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium Nicola Copernicus, is located in Varna, Bulgaria. It has a rich history dating back to the 1960s when a group of enthusiasts from Varna founded the Astronautics and Astronomy Club. This club played a significant role in proposing and establishing the observatory. The observatory was officially opened on May 22, 1968, and became the first astronomical complex in Bulgaria. It consists of an observatory, a planetarium, and a tower housing a Foucault pendulum. The construction of the observatory was supported by the municipality of Varna and a committee led by the then mayor, Nikolay Boyadzhiev. Initially equipped with several small telescopes, including an 80/1200 mm refractor telescope and a 150/2250 mm Cassegrain telescope, the observatory expanded its facilities over time. It included a 100/250 mm NAFA camera for photographing the International Space Station (ISS) and portable refractor telescopes for mass observations. The observatory's planetarium, known as the Star Hall, featured a ZKP/Zeiss Kleinplanetarium projection apparatus, capable of projecting 5,500 stars onto a hemispherical dome. In 1971, a subsidiary astronomical observatory was established in the village of Avren, approximately 35 kilometers from Varna. This observatory housed a building, a tower with a 5.2-meter dome, and a 50/890 cm Cassegrain system telescope. It also had observation decks for meteors and various telescopes and cameras for capturing celestial phenomena. The Varna Observatory has been actively involved in astronomical research and observations. It has contributed to studies on celestial objects and phenomena, collaborating with other observatories in Bulgaria such as the National Observatory 'Rozhen' and the observatory in Belogradchik. The observatory has also played a vital role in educational and methodical work, conducting lectures and training courses for teachers and students in subjects such as astronomy, physics, geography, and natural science. The observatory has organized various events to promote astronomy, including the National Youth Astronomy Conference and the Astronomy Week. These gatherings have brought together specialists, amateur astronomers, and students to share their work and discoveries. The Varna Observatory has published research results in national and international journals and has contributed to the field of comet and meteor observations. Furthermore, the observatory has made significant efforts to popularize astronomy among citizens. It conducts special lectures in the Star Hall of the Planetarium, publishes articles, and participates in media interviews. In 2002, the reconstructed building of the observatory was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria at the time, Simeon of Saxe-Coburg. The observatory has gained international recognition and hosted the International Meteor Conference in September 2004, which brought together scientists studying meteor showers from around the world.

Type of Data Point - Website/Blog Post

История на НАОП „Николай Коперник“ − гр. Варна

Visit page of the element - Astronomical Observatory Nicolaus Copernicus

Inserted: 01-07-2023 14:07:33