Maidanak Observatory

Maidanak Observatory sits at 2,650 meters on the Maidanak Plateau in Uzbekistan, about 45 kilometers south of Shakhrisabz. Founded in 1970, it's become internationally known for some of the clearest, driest observing conditions in Central Asia.

About Maidanak Observatory

Maidanak's high, dry plateau gives it roughly 2,000 hours of dark observing time a year - around 58% of the year overall, rising to about 90% in July and dropping to roughly 50% in February. That reliability has made it a sought-after site for precision astronomy.

History

The observatory was founded in 1970 on the western Maidanak Plateau, chosen for its high altitude and stable atmosphere.

Telescopes & research

Maidanak's main instruments are the AZT-22 telescope, with a 1.5-meter mirror, and a Carl Zeiss-Jena telescope with a 1-meter mirror. Astronomers here study variable stars, active galactic nuclei, minor bodies of the solar system, and exoplanets - Maidanak is internationally recognized in particular for the precision of its variable star studies.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Asia, in Uzbekistan, at an elevation of 2,650 meters on the Maidanak Plateau, roughly 45 kilometers south of the historic town of Shakhrisabz.

Visiting Maidanak Observatory

Maidanak is an active research observatory. Anyone planning a visit should check current access arrangements with the operating institute before travelling, since remote mountain-top sites like this typically restrict casual access.

See your named star from here

Thanks to its exceptionally clear skies, Maidanak is exactly the kind of site where a telescope can be aimed precisely at the coordinates of a star you've named with Star Register. See where your star sits in the catalogue.