Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science

The Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SAO RAS) sits in the Bolshoi Zelenchuk Valley of the Greater Caucasus, near the village of Nizhny Arkhyz in southern Russia.

About the Special Astrophysical Observatory

Founded in 1966 in the USSR, the observatory is now operated by the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is best known for hosting two major instruments about 20 km apart: the BTA-6 optical telescope and the RATAN-600 radio telescope.

History

The BTA-6 saw first light in 1975 with a 6-metre primary mirror, and held the record as the world's largest single-mirror optical telescope until 1993. The RATAN-600, meanwhile, is built from a 576-metre-diameter ring of reflecting elements, making it one of the largest radio telescopes ever constructed.

Telescopes & research

Researchers at SAO RAS use these instruments for work including three-dimensional spectroscopy of galaxies, high-resolution imaging, and studies requiring ultra-high time resolution. The combination of a large optical mirror and a vast radio array gives the site an unusually broad research reach for a single observatory.

Location & getting there

The observatory occupies a remote mountain valley in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, in the Greater Caucasus range of southern Russia, chosen for its high altitude and distance from major cities.

Visiting the Special Astrophysical Observatory

Details of public tours are not confirmed here; anyone hoping to visit should check the observatory's official website for current access arrangements before travelling to this remote site.

See your named star from here

Whether you're working with a 6-metre mirror or a home telescope, finding a specific star always comes down to coordinates, exactly what's printed on every Star Register certificate. Browse our star packages or the catalogue of stars already named.