Erbil Observatory

High on Mount Korek in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Erbil Observatory tells the story of an ambitious astronomical project interrupted by war.

About Erbil Observatory

Erbil Observatory was established in 1973 by order of then-President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, with a site chosen on Mount Korek at roughly 2,127 meters elevation for its minimal light pollution and strong observing conditions.

History

Plans called for a facility with three telescopes, built at an estimated cost of around $160 million. Construction in the early 1980s involved roughly 400 workers from companies including Baresel, Epple, Krupp, Liebherr and Zeiss. The observatory buildings were only partially completed before they were destroyed by Iranian rockets during the Iran-Iraq War, and the project was never finished as originally envisioned.

Location & getting there

The site sits on Mount Korek in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, near Erbil, chosen specifically for its dark, high-altitude skies.

Visiting Erbil Observatory

Because the observatory was never completed to its original design, visitors should not expect a fully operating research facility. Anyone interested in seeing the site or learning more about its history should check current local tourism information before planning a trip, since access and condition can change.

See your named star from here

Mount Korek was chosen for this project because its skies are exceptionally dark — the same quality that makes any location well suited to stargazing. If you've named a star through Star Register, look up its exact coordinates in the catalogue and take them to any working observatory with a telescope, wherever your travels take you.