Astronomical Research and Education in Tajikistan

Abstract

AbstractAstronomical researches in Tajikistan are carried out by the Institute of Astrophysics, Tajik Academy of Sciences. The main scientific fields of investigation are physics and dynamics of asteroids, comets and meteors, variable stars and observations of artificial Earth satellites. The Institute has three observational stations: the Gissar observatory (at an altitude 730 m above sea-level) with photographic fireball and meteor patrols, a 70-cm reflector, a 40-cm Zeiss astrograph, a high-precision astronomical telescope (D=1 m, F=0.75 m), etc.; the Sanglokh observatory (at an altitude 2300 m above sea-level) with a Ritchey-Chretien 1-m telescope and 0.6-m reflector by Carl Zeiss; the Pamir observatory (at an altitude 4350 m above sea-level) with a 70-cm reflector. In 1999 the Department of Astronomy was restored in the Tajik State National University and the first students were admitted to this university for the astronomical profession.