Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory

Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory
Observatory code 119 Edit this on Wikidata
LocationAbastumani, Adigeni Municipality, Samtskhe–Javakheti, Georgia
Coordinates41°45′15″N 42°49′10″E / 41.7542°N 42.8194°E / 41.7542; 42.8194
Altitude1,650 m (5,410 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Websiteobservatory.iliauni.edu.ge Edit this at Wikidata
Telescopes
Unnamed33 cm Reflector - mounted in 1932, now is in the Museum of GENAO
Unnamed40 cm Zeiss Refractor - mounted in 1936
Unnamed44 cm Zeiss Schmidt Camera - mounted in 1940
Unnamed70 cm Maksutov Meniscus Telescope - 1955
Unnamed48 cm Cassegrain Reflector - mounted in 1968
Unnamed40 cm Zeiss Double Astrograph - mounted in 1978
Unnamed125 cm Ritchey–Chrétien Reflector - mounted in 1977
Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory is located in Georgia
Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory
Location of Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory
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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. The altitude of Mt. Kanobili varies between 1650 and 1700 m above sea level. The observatory is located ~250 km from Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Its distance from air pollution and artificial sky illumination, together with excellent natural conditions (a hilly landscape covered with coniferous forest) make this location one of the best for observatories at the same altitude range. The weather is stable, without harsh and sudden changes.

The observatory carries out wide-profile research spanning different fields of astronomy and astrophysics and investigations of the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.