National Astronomical Observatory "Slavey Zlatev"

The National Astronomical Observatory "Slavey Zlatev" stands in the Beli Brezi (White Aspens) complex in Prostor Park, Kardzhali, Bulgaria.

About National Astronomical Observatory "Slavey Zlatev"

The observatory has served as an educational facility for nearly 50 years, teaching astronomy to high school students in the Kardzhali region. It was renamed in 1998 in honour of its founder, Slavey Zlatev, a physicist born in 1946 who also took part in space projects.

History

The observatory was established on September 28, 1966, by decision of the District People's Council. Its current building in Prostor Park was constructed in October 1978. In March 2024, the site expanded with the inauguration of the third-largest planetarium in Bulgaria.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's instruments include a stationary 150/2250mm Coudé refractor housed in a rotating dome, a mobile 150/2220mm Cassegrain telescope, and portable refractors made by Carl Zeiss Jena.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in Kardzhali, in the Beli Brezi complex within Prostor Park, in the mountainous Kardzhali Province of southern Bulgaria.

Visiting National Astronomical Observatory "Slavey Zlatev"

Given its long history of hosting student groups and its newly opened planetarium, the observatory is set up for visitors, though exact hours can vary; check locally in Kardzhali or with the observatory before travelling.

See your named star from here

With telescopes built for both fixed and mobile observation, staff here can locate the exact coordinates of any star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the star catalogue.