 Radio telescope at Tien Shan Observatory | |
| Alternative names | TShAO |
|---|---|
| Organization | |
| Observatory code | N42 |
| Location | Almaty,Kazakhstan |
| Coordinates | 43°03′27″N76°58′17″E / 43.0576°N 76.9715°E /43.0576; 76.9715 |
| Established | 1957 |
| Website | fai |
| Telescopes |
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  Location of Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
TheTien Shan Astronomical Observatory (TSHAO, TSAO, or Tien Shan Observatory;obs. code:N42) is anastronomical observatory located in the Tien Shan Mountains at 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) altitude, 30 kilometers south of the city ofAlmaty inKazakhstan.[1]It was assigned to theSternberg Astronomical Institute (GAISh) until the collapse of theSoviet Union. The observatory is a state-owned scientific institution that belongs to the Astrophysical Institute after V.G. Fesenkov. It is often used forphotometric investigations of variable stars in theMilky Way, eclipsing systems.[2][3][4]
The Tien Shan Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1957. It is located in the mountains of Tien Shan at an altitude of 2,735 m (8,973 ft) above sea level, nearBig Almaty Lake, 30 km from Almaty city. The observatory has two 1-meterRitchey–Chrétien telescopes in addition to a number of smaller telescopes. The biggest instrument, however, is aradio telescope.
Between 1994 and 2008, the observatory formed part of the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute (Kazakhstan's major scientific organization for fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics). Currently it forms part of Kazakhstan's National Center for Space Research and Technologies.
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, none of the observatory's 1-meter telescopes were in working order on account of outdated equipment and lack of spare parts. In 2013 work was completed on the observatory's East 1-meter telescope, and in late spring of 2014 its second 1-meter telescope (called "West") entered service.
Currently both telescopes have remote up-to-date control systems. The telescopes' remote controls are managed via Internet.
The observatory has undertaken various projects since the new equipment was installed. This includes observations ofexoplanets (extra-solar planets), studies of faint stars in the Milky Way (that resulted in discovery of a total of 20 variable stars), studies of stars, recording of afterglow ofgamma-ray bursts, and various other projects.
In collaboration with the South Korean Institute for Astronomy and Space Sciences, the Tien Shan Observatory is planning to install an automated telescope of 50 cm in diameter. The telescope will be linked to the four similar telescopes inMongolia,South Africa,Australia, andTurkey, and will become part of the global network of small telescopes.[5]
Moreover, the observatory is also equipped with a 20 cm Coudet refractor, an ACU-5 horizontal solar telescope, a Nikolsky coronograph, a Schmidtastrograph, and an 80 cm reflector.[1]
