School encyclopedia. Astronomical observatory - what is it? Creation of the first observatories in Europe

Astronomical observatories are research institutions that conduct systematic observations of celestial bodies and phenomena and conduct research in the field of astronomy. Observatories are equipped with observation instruments (optical telescopes and radio telescopes), special laboratory instruments for processing observation results: astrophotographs, spectrograms, records of astrophotometers and other devices that record various characteristics of the study of celestial bodies, etc.

The creation of the first astronomical observatories is lost in the mists of time. The oldest observatories were built in Assyria, Babylon, China, Egypt, Persia, India, Mexico, Peru and some other countries several thousand years ago. The ancient Egyptian priests, who were essentially the first astronomers, made observations from flat platforms specially made on the tops of the pyramids.

In England, the remains of an amazing astronomical observatory built back in the Stone Age were discovered - Stonehenge. The “instruments” for observations at this observatory, which was also a temple, were stone slabs installed in a certain order.

Another ancient observatory was opened recently on the territory of the Armenian SSR, not far from Yerevan. According to archaeologists, this observatory was built about 5 thousand years ago, long before the formation of Urartu - the first state that arose on the territory of our country.

The observatory, outstanding for its time, was built in the 15th century. in Samarkand, the great Uzbek astronomer Ulugbek. The main instrument of the observatory was a giant quadrant for measuring the angular distances of stars and other luminaries. At this observatory, with the direct participation of Ulugbek, a famous catalog was compiled, which contained the coordinates of 1018 stars, determined with unprecedented accuracy. For a long time this catalog was considered the best in the world.

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The first observatories of the modern type began to be built in Europe at the beginning of the 17th century, after the telescope was invented. The first large state observatory was built in Paris in 1667. Together with quadrants and other goniometric instruments of ancient astronomy, large refracting telescopes with focal lengths of 10, 30 and 40 m were used here. In 1675, the Greenwich Observatory in England began its activity.

By the end of the 18th century. the number of observatories around the world reached 100 by the end of the 19th century. there are already about 400 of them. Currently, there are more than 500 astronomical observatories operating on the globe, the vast majority of which are located in the northern hemisphere.

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In Russia, the first astronomical observatory was the private observatory of A. A. Lyubimov in Kholmogory near Arkhangelsk (1692). In 1701, an observatory at the Navigation School opened in Moscow. In 1839, the famous Pulkovo Observatory was founded near St. Petersburg, which, thanks to its advanced instruments and high accuracy of observations, was called in the middle of the 19th century. astronomical capital of the world. In terms of the perfection of its equipment, the observatory immediately took one of the first places in the world.

In the Soviet Union, astronomical observations and research are now carried out in more than 30 astronomical observatories and institutes equipped with the most modern equipment, including the world's largest telescope with a mirror diameter of 6 m.

Among the leading Soviet observatories are the Main Astronomical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Pulkovo Observatory), the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences (near the village of Zelenchukskaya in the North Caucasus), the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences, nskaya astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR, Shemakha Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, Radio Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Tartu Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR, Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Astrophysical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, Institute of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR, Zvenigorod Sky Astronomical Observatory of the Astronomical Council of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute named after. P.K. Sternberg of Moscow University, astronomical observatories of Leningrad, Kazan and other universities.

Among the foreign observatories, the largest are Greenwich (Great Britain), Harvard and Mount Palomar (USA), Pic du Midi (France); in socialist countries - Potsdam (GDR), Ondrejov (Czechoslovakia), Krakow (Poland), the Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, etc. Astronomical observatories of various countries working on common topics exchange the results of their observations and research, often conducting observations of the same and the same space objects according to the same program.

The appearance of modern astronomical observatories is characterized by buildings of cylindrical or multifaceted shape. These are observatory towers that house telescopes.

There are specialized observatories that mainly conduct only observations according to a narrow scientific program. These are latitude stations, radio astronomical observatories, mountain stations for observing the Sun, stations for optical observations of artificial Earth satellites and some others.

Currently, the work of some observatories (Byurakan, Crimean) is closely related to observations carried out by astronauts from spacecraft and orbital stations. At these observatories, the equipment necessary for astronauts to make observations is manufactured; Observatory employees process material coming from space.

In addition to astronomical observatories, which are research institutions, in the USSR and other countries there are public observatories - scientific educational institutions designed to show celestial bodies and phenomena to the public. These observatories, equipped with small telescopes and other equipment, traveling astronomical exhibitions and exhibits, are usually built at planetariums, Palaces of Pioneers or astronomical societies.

A special category consists of educational astronomical observatories created at secondary schools and pedagogical institutes. They are designed to ensure high-quality observations provided for in the curriculum, as well as to develop circle work among students.

T. MOISEEVA (St. Petersburg).

For almost three centuries, the building of the Kunstkamera, the first Russian public museum, has been reflected in the waters of the Neva. Peter I founded it for collecting and researching rarities. Now the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography has collected more than one million exhibits telling about the diversity of cultures of the peoples of the Old and New Worlds. The Kunstkamera was built in 1718-1728 according to the design of G. I. Matarnovi by architects N. F. Gerbel, G. Chiaveri and M. G. Zemtsov. From the first days of the museum's existence, an astronomical observatory was located in its tower.

Science and life // Illustrations

Kunstkamera building. Modern look.

Science and life // Illustrations

First astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The painting on the vaults was done by the artist F. Richter in 1820-1830. Above the entrance to each pavilion are "putti" displaying various astronomical instruments.

Southern pavilion of the astronomical observatory. The exhibition includes telescopes from the 18th century and a brass armillary sphere by K. Passeman (a visual model of the solar system), made in 1769 in Paris, a rare specimen in museum collections.

Ill. 1. Eastern pavilion of the first astronomical observatory.

The office of an 18th-century encyclopedist.

The portrait of M. V. Lomonosov, who worked in the building of the Kunstkamera, was painted in 1787 by the artist L. S. Miropolsky, commissioned by the President of the Academy of Sciences E. R. Dashkova.

A chemist's table with materials from the excavations of the first scientific chemical laboratory of Russia, founded by M. V. Lomonosov on the 2nd line of Vasilyevsky Island. A fragment of the new exhibition "M. V. Lomonosov and the Academy of Sciences of the 18th century."

Western pavilion of the observatory with the earliest astronomical instruments.

Ill. 2. In the foreground is a Mirror by the sculptor N. P. Pavlov.

They began to show interest in astronomy as a science in Russia only in the era of Peter I, although people in Rus' knew how to navigate by the Sun and stars even in ancient times. Several associates of the tsar were engaged in astronomical observations - Jacob William Bruce, Feofan Prokopovich, Alexander Danilovich Menshikov. All of them had home observatories, where Peter I, who was himself fond of astronomy, visited. Even during his first trip abroad, the tsar visited the most famous observatories in Europe, where he conducted astronomical observations. At the same time, he acquired several books on astronomy, which, on his orders, were translated into Russian. The Emperor understood the importance of astronomy for the development of the Russian state and considered it necessary to create a state observatory.

Establishing the Academy of Sciences in 1724, Peter I previously held negotiations with foreign scientists. One of the first invitees was the French astronomer Joseph Nicolas Delisle (1688-1768). Peter I met him in Paris in 1717 during his second trip to Europe. Delisle proposed a detailed program of work. It included, in particular, “the founding of an astronomical observatory in St. Petersburg and the organization of systematic observations there, simultaneous with observations at other observatories in Europe.” Peter I hurried the French astronomer, but he arrived only in 1726, after the death of the emperor. Along with him came his wife, younger brother and mechanic Pierre Vignon (died 1734). The scientist brought astronomical instruments and necessary equipment from France. He immediately began making observations and was energetically involved in the creation of an observatory, which was supposed to be located in the tower of the Kunstkamera building.

At this time the building was still under construction. Delisle, having become acquainted with the drawings of the architect Gaetano Chiaveri, considered them unsuitable “from the point of view of observations”, proposing his own design for the central part of the building. It was carried out with minor deviations. On the small turret crowning the building, instead of the weather vane conceived by Delisle, an armillary sphere (diagram of the structure of the Solar System), proposed by P. Vignon and made by him, was installed. It is in this form that the tower, which existed before the fire of 1747, is depicted in 18th-century engravings.

The guidebook “Chambers of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences, Library and Kunstkamera” (1741) contains an engraving “Plan of a tower for astronomical observations”, and in the catalog “Musei Imperialis Petropotitani” published in the same year there is a drawing compiled by professor of astronomy Gottfried Heinsius (1709- 1769) a list of all the instruments that were in the observatory before the fire. The founder of the observatory, Delisle, also left a detailed inventory. These materials helped to reconstruct the premises and equipment of the observatory, which was located in the upper floors of the tower, above the Great Gottorp Globe (discussed later).

In the premises of the fourth floor there was the so-called lower observatory, located on the line of the St. Petersburg meridian. Among the instruments, a large English wall sextant with a radius of 5 feet, obtained from the collection of J. W. Bruce, stood out. (The sextant was once used by the outstanding astronomer, director of the Greenwich Observatory Edmund Halley (1656-1742) when compiling a catalog of stars.) The observatory also contained: several pendulum clocks brought from France by Delisle, a large celestial globe, a quadrant that belonged to Peter I, 28 celestial maps from the catalog of the English astronomer J. Flamsteed (1646-1719), a telescope made according to the design of I. Newton, various meteorological instruments, both stationary and portable.

Above the lower one was the middle observatory, where the “noon line” was marked, and a large gnomon was installed to determine the noon altitude of the Sun. There were also pendulum clocks and portable instruments: spotting scopes, quadrants, large compasses and measures of length, in particular a standard ruler of 3 French feet.

In the upper observatory, the smallest room, a camera obscura was equipped for observing solar eclipses.

The scientists who worked at the observatory used all kinds of instruments from the imperial office of Peter I and from the physics office of the Academy of Sciences.

Delisle managed to recruit talented young scientists who began their scientific careers at the St. Petersburg Academy to work at the observatory: L. Euler, G. W. Kraft, H. N. Winsheim, F. H. Mayer, G. Heinsius and others. They subsequently proved themselves not only in astronomy, but also in mathematics, physics, geography, geodesy, meteorology, and metrology.

Domestic geodesy and geography were born within the walls of the observatory. Under the leadership of Delisle, the degree of the meridian along which the city was planned was determined, and the coordinates of some points in the country were clarified. The updated coordinates were plotted on maps included in the first Atlas of Russia, published in 1745. The maps were developed at the observatory, and they were stored here.

Russian meteorology also developed in the building of the Kunstkamera. Constant meteorological observations were established, for which barometers, thermometers with various scales, hygrometers, and instruments for determining wind direction were used.

The national time service was also organized here. Since 1735, a light signal began to be sent from the tower of the Kunstkamera at noon to the Admiralty, from where a cannon shot was fired.

In the 18th century, the Kunstkamera housed the largest number of clocks of various designs in Russia, in particular the first astronomical clock. Along with mechanical clocks made by French masters, sundials were also kept. The comparison of the clock progress was controlled by the head of the observatory. Under his leadership, various instruments were verified and their errors were determined, which made it possible to obtain more accurate measurement results in the future.

During a fire in 1747, the wooden tower burned down and almost all the instruments were lost.

Shortly before this, at the beginning of 1747, Delisle left St. Petersburg, transferring all affairs of the observatory to Academician H. N. Winsheim (1694-1751). To the best of his ability, H. N. Winsheim a year later partially restored the observatory and continued observations. The observatory was finally rebuilt in 1760-1766, but without the upper part. The Kunstkamera building stood in this form until 1947.

After Winsheim's death, Augustine Nathanael Grishov (before 1726-1760), invited from Germany, was appointed head of the observatory. He made a lot of efforts to replace the lost equipment. According to his orders, the best astronomical instruments were purchased in England, France, Germany, and the masters of academic workshops also worked hard. By the end of the 18th century, the observatory was equipped with the best instruments of that time, similar to those used in Stockholm, Paris, Berlin and other European observatories.

In 1839, an observatory was opened in Pulkovo, and the observatory in the Kunstkamera became an educational facility at the university. It remained in this capacity until the beginning of the twentieth century, then was forgotten for many years. And only now, in the Kunstkamera, work has begun to recreate the first state observatory of Russia with all scientific directions and services, the appearance and development of which dates back to the 18th century.

Captions for illustrations

Ill. 1. The meridian circle (goniometer instrument), made at the beginning of the 19th century in the workshop of T. Ertel (Germany), is located on the line of the first St. Petersburg meridian (picture in the middle). The supports of the Meridian Circle are made from marble columns of the old St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Ill. 2. The mirror is a symbol of the legality of the Russian Empire. A triangular prism topped with a double-headed eagle, on the sides of which printed copies of Peter’s decrees were pasted, was exhibited in all government institutions of Russia from the time of Peter I until February 1917.

Astronomical observatories (in astronomy). Description of observatories in ancient times and in the modern world.

An astronomical observatory is a scientific institution designed to observe celestial bodies. It is built on a high place from which you can look anywhere. All observatories are necessarily equipped with telescopes and similar equipment for astronomical and geophysical observations.

1. Astronomical “observatories” in ancient times.
Since ancient times, people have located themselves on hills or high terrain for astronomical observations. The pyramids also served as observation sites.

Not far from the Karnak fortress, which is located in the city of Luxor, there is a sanctuary of Ra - Gorakhte. On the day of the winter solstice, the sun rose from there.
The most ancient prototype of an astronomical observatory is the famous Stonehenge. There is an assumption that in a number of parameters it corresponded to sunrises on the days of the summer solstice.
2. The first astronomical observatories.
Already in 1425, the construction of one of the first observatories was completed near Samarkand. It was unique, as there was nothing like it anywhere else.
Later, the Danish king set aside an island near Sweden to create an astronomical observatory. Two observatories were built. And for 21 years, the king’s activities continued on the island, during which people learned more and more about what the Universe is.
3. Observatories of Europe and Russia.
Soon, observatories began to be created rapidly in Europe. One of the first was the observatory in Copenhagen.
One of the most magnificent observatories of that time was built in Paris. The best scientists work there.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory owes its popularity to the fact that the “Greenwich meridian” passes through the axis of the passage instrument. It was founded by order of the ruler Charles II. The construction was justified by the need to measure the longitude of a place during navigation.
After the construction of the Paris and Greenwich observatories, state observatories began to be created in numerous other European countries. More than 100 observatories begin to operate. They operate in almost every educational institution, and the number of private observatories is increasing.
Among the first to be built was the observatory of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In 1690, on the Northern Dvina, near Arkhangelsk, the fundamental astronomical observatory in Russia was created. In 1839, another observatory was opened - Pulkovo. The Pulkovo Observatory was and is of greatest importance compared to others. The astronomical observatory of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences was closed, and its numerous instruments and instruments were transported to Pulkovo.
The beginning of a new stage in the development of astronomical science dates back to the establishment of the Academy of Sciences.
With the collapse of the USSR, the costs of research development are reduced. Because of this, observatories not associated with the state, equipped with professional-level equipment, are beginning to appear in the country.

Another ancient observatory was opened on the territory of Armenia, not far from Yerevan. According to archaeologists, this observatory was built about 5 thousand years ago, long before the formation of Urartu - the first state that arose on the territory of our country.

In the Soviet Union, astronomical observations and research were carried out in more than 30 astronomical observatories and institutes equipped with the most modern equipment, including the world's largest telescope with a mirror diameter of 6 m. Among the leading Soviet observatories are the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Pulkovo Observatory), the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (near the village of Zelenchukskaya in the North Caucasus), Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Main Astronomical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR, Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR, Shemakha Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR , Radio Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Tartu Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR, Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Astrophysical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, Institute of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR, Zvenigorod Astronomical Observatory of the Astronomical Council of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Astronomical Institute named after. P.K. Sternberg of Moscow University, astronomical observatories of Leningrad, Kazan and other universities.

Among the foreign observatories, the largest are Greenwich (Great Britain), Harvard and Mount Palomar (USA), Pic du Midi (France); in socialist countries - Potsdam (GDR), Ondrejov (Czechoslovakia), Krakow (Poland), the Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, etc. Astronomical observatories of various countries working on common topics exchange the results of their observations and research, often conducting observations of the same the same space objects according to the same program.

The appearance of modern astronomical observatories is characterized by buildings of cylindrical or multifaceted shape. These are observatory towers that house telescopes.

In addition to astronomical observatories, which are research institutions, in the USSR and other countries there are public observatories - scientific and educational institutions designed to show celestial bodies and phenomena to the public. These observatories, equipped with small telescopes and other equipment, traveling astronomical exhibitions and exhibits, are usually built at planetariums, Palaces of Pioneers or astronomical societies.

I present to your attention an overview of the best observatories in the world. These may be the largest, most modern and high-tech observatories located in amazing locations, which allowed them to make it into the top ten. Many of them, such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii, have already been mentioned in other articles, and many will be an unexpected discovery for the reader. So, let's move on to the list...

Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, atop Mauna Kea, MKO is the world's largest array of optical, infrared, and precision astronomical equipment. The Mauna Kea Observatory building houses more telescopes than any other in the world.

Very Large Telescope (VLT), Chile

The Very Large Telescope is a complex operated by the Southern European Observatory. It is located on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. The VLT actually consists of four separate telescopes, which are usually used separately, but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution.

South Polar Telescope (SPT), Antarctica

The telescope with a diameter of 10 meters is located at the Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole in Antarctica. SPT began its astronomical observations in early 2007.

Yerkes Observatory, USA

Founded back in 1897, Yerkes Observatory is not as high-tech as the previous observatories on this list. However, it is rightfully considered “the birthplace of modern astrophysics.” It is located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, at an altitude of 334 meters.

ORM Observatory, Canaries

The ORM Observatory (Roque de Los Muchachos) is located at an altitude of 2,396 meters, making it one of the best locations for optical and infrared astronomy in the northern hemisphere. The observatory also has the largest aperture optical telescope in the world.

Arecibo in Puerto Rico

Opened in 1963, the Arecibo Observatory is a giant radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Until 2011, the observatory was operated by Cornell University. Arecibo's pride is its 305-meter radio telescope, which has one of the largest apertures in the world. The telescope is used for radio astronomy, aeronomy and radar astronomy. The telescope is also known for its participation in the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project.

Australian Astronomical Observatory

Situated at an altitude of 1164 meters, the AAO (Australian Astronomical Observatory) has two telescopes: the 3.9-meter Anglo-Australian Telescope and the 1.2-meter British Schmidt Telescope.

Tokyo University Atacama Observatory

Like the VLT and other telescopes, the University of Tokyo observatory is also located in the Chilean Atacama Desert. The observatory is located at the top of Cerro Chainantor, at an altitude of 5,640 meters, making it the highest astronomical observatory in the world.

ALMA in the Atacama Desert

The ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) observatory is also located in the Atacama Desert, next to the Very Large Telescope and the University of Tokyo Observatory. ALMA has a variety of 66, 12 and 7 meter radio telescopes. It is the result of cooperation between Europe, the USA, Canada, East Asia and Chile. More than a billion dollars were spent on the creation of the observatory. Particularly worth highlighting is the most expensive currently existing telescope, which is in service at ALMA.

Astronomical Observatory of India (IAO)

Situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the India Astronomical Observatory is one of the highest in the world. It is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore.