Simeiz Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Perched on Mount Koshka above the seaside town of Simeiz in Crimea, Simeiz Observatory is one of the most historically productive small observatories in astronomy. From this rocky outcrop overlooking the Black Sea, generations of astronomers scanned the southern sky for decades.
About Simeiz Observatory
Simeiz Observatory was founded in 1908 as a branch of the Pulkovo Observatory, with an original tower built in 1900 and a second tower added in 1906. It operated as an active astronomy research site until the mid-1950s, when much of its work shifted elsewhere. Today it forms part of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and is used for laser-based studies of satellite orbits rather than classical stargazing.
History
During its research heyday, Simeiz became remarkably productive: the Minor Planet Center credits the observatory with 150 minor planet discoveries, made by astronomers including Grigory Neujmin, Sergey Belyavsky, Vladimir Albitsky, Grigory Shajn, Nikolaj Ivanov, Pelageya Shajn, Praskov'ja Parchomenko, Alexander Deutsch and Evgenij Skvorcov. As recently as 2017, the minor planet 369010 Ira was still directly credited to Simeiz by the MPC.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits at 360 metres elevation on Mount Koshka, right by the resort town of Simeiz on Crimea's southern coast, within easy reach of Yalta. The dramatic clifftop position that made it valuable for astronomy also makes it a striking viewpoint over the sea.
Visiting Simeiz Observatory
Because the site is now dedicated to satellite laser ranging rather than public astronomy, check locally or with the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory before planning a visit, as access and opening arrangements can change.
See your named star from here
If you'd like to connect a place with this kind of astronomical heritage to a star of your own, you can name a star and get its exact coordinates, then browse the catalogue to see stars already named by others - any observatory's staff can point a telescope at those coordinates on a clear night.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
