Sanglok Observatory

High in the Khatlon Province of Tajikistan, at roughly 2,309 metres above sea level, Sanglok Observatory has for decades used the region's thin mountain air for astronomical observation.

About Sanglok Observatory

Sanglok Observatory was originally established under the Institute of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR, part of a network of Soviet-era observatories built to take advantage of Central Asia's high-altitude, clear-sky sites. A branch facility, Shorbulok Observatory, was added in 1995 at an even higher 4,350 metres.

Telescopes & research

The site's main instrument is a 1-metre Ritchey-Chretien telescope, a design well suited to precise imaging across a wide field of view. The mountain also hosts the Okno space surveillance station, operated by Russia's Space Forces at around 2,216 metres, reflecting the strategic value of the site's altitude and sky clarity.

Location & getting there

Sanglok sits in Khatlon Province in southern Tajikistan, part of the wider Central Asian mountain system. Its high elevation puts it above much of the lower atmosphere's turbulence and light pollution, a major advantage for both stellar imaging and space surveillance work.

Visiting Sanglok Observatory

Sanglok is a working scientific site, partly linked to national security infrastructure, rather than a public attraction, so there is no general visitor access. Anyone with a professional interest should make arrangements through the relevant Tajik scientific institutions well in advance.

See your named star from here

A one-metre telescope at 2,300 metres can resolve a great deal of sky, including the exact coordinates of a star named through Star Register. See how it works in the star catalogue.