Rozhen Observatory: Get closer to the stars!

published on 1/25/11 1:00 PM

Photo: Архив

The biggest astronomical complex in South-East Europe is located in a beautiful and untouched-by-civilization spot in the Central Rhodope Mountain, Southern Bulgaria. This is the Rozhen Observatory, which is some 30 km away from the town of Smolyan. Peering through the gigantic “eye” of its 2-meter-long telescope visitors can teleport to the edge of the galaxy. The working team at the observatory shows people around, telling them intriguing stories about the history of telescopes and the latest discoveries in the Cosmos.

The Rozhen Observatory opened in the remote 1981. Its engineers took into account that an astronomical complex like this one should be situated at a high altitude to avoid the polluted air of the lowlands and also be far away from the industrial pollutants and lights of the big cities. Except for its crystal clean air, the region boasted the largest number of clear nights per year. The mount of Rozhen soaring at the height of 1750 m turned out to be the best place for the construction of the complex. It was built to withstand very strong earthquakes that range up to 7 or 8 on the Richter scale. The observatory’s biggest attraction, beyond doubt, is its 2-meter-long telescope, which steadily peeps through its dome and can be pointed at any one direction. Although it weighs 80 tons, its engine is a mere 150 watts. “In other words, the telescope is significantly less powerful than a women’s hairdryer”, Head of Rozhen Observatory Nikola Petrov jokes and adds:

“Some 10 000 tourists visit us per year. Very often we receive children and foreigners. The observatory is opened every day and works all year round. At night we carry out night observations with smaller telescopes. With them it is very interesting to observe the moon- the scene is so real that it seems you stood on the moon’s surface! We can also see Jupiter, and in the morning Saturn has good visibility. Our visitors are impressed with the beautiful nebulas and star domes that can be seen from the observatory. The Andromeda Galaxy is well visible, too. We also have a special telescope for sun observation. It causes a sort of artificial solar eclipse that allows us to observe the protuberances at the Sun’s edges”, Nikola Petrov says for Radio Bulgaria.

Through the observatory’s gigantic eye one can see galaxies located mote than 6 billion light years away from the Earth. Imagine for a while that for a single Earth’s second the light travels 300000 km.! The further away we look into space, the more we travel back in time. The telescopes for night observation at the Rozhen Observatory are products of the German company Carl Zeiss Jena, while the telescope for sun observation is entirely Bulgarian-made. The Bulgarian scientists at the complex carry out in-depth investigations of asteroids and comets with the aim to follow their trajectories and warn, if necessary, about eventual disasters. Tourists ask all the time about interesting nebular formations, Nikola Petrov says. From Radio Bulgaria we asked whether they had observed UFOs.

“In fact, we have not observed UFOs, which does not mean there is no life on other planets”, Mr Petrov goes on to say. “Most astronomers believe that in the coming years we will prove the existence of extraterrestrial life in our Solar system. By that we do not mean other civilizations, but rather microorganisms that can be found in other environments which so far have been though of as inhospitable. New theories claim that live organisms can be seen even on Neptune, whose surface is entirely frozen. Yet, satellites passing closely by have showed water in a liquid state there, which is one condition for the existence of life. These are geysers that gush water at the height of some 100 km”, Head of Rozhen Observatory Nikola Petrov says in conclusion.
You can feel closer to the stars if you just take a stroll around the ring-shaped terrace on the observatory’ s dome. Once there, you will merge with the breath-taking view of the smoothly curved tops of the Rhodopes that peter out into the horizon.

English version: Vyara Popova

По публикацията работи: Veneta Nikolova

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Rozhen Observatory: Get closer to the stars!

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