Gissar Observatory

Gissar Observatory has stood in the Hisar region of Tajikistan since 1956, at an elevation of 743 metres, where it has spent decades tracking meteors.

About Gissar Observatory

Gissar Observatory is an astronomical facility in the Hisar region of Tajikistan, founded in 1956. Originally part of the Soviet astronomical network, it is registered with the Minor Planet Center under code 190 and maintains ongoing connections with educational institutions in Tajikistan.

History

The observatory was established in 1956 and became part of the wider Soviet-era astronomical research network. It has continued regular astronomical observations since then.

Telescopes & research

Gissar Observatory operates a 70 cm telescope alongside a 40 cm Zeiss astrograph. Its main research focus has been photographic and radar meteor patrols, gathering radio-meteor data such as radiant coordinates, velocities, orbital elements, heights, and masses of meteoroids.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the Hisar region of Tajikistan at an elevation of 743 metres. Its elevated position in the mountainous terrain of the region has supported decades of meteor observation work.

Visiting Gissar Observatory

Visiting information is not widely published for Gissar Observatory. It is primarily a research site with educational links rather than a public tourist attraction, so anyone hoping to visit should contact the institutions it works with in Tajikistan in advance.

See your named star from here

Gissar Observatory's telescopes have spent decades pointed at precise sky coordinates to track meteors, the same kind of coordinates attached to every star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the catalogue to find one already named.