site.btaThousands Visit National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen on Its Open Day

Thousands of visitors came to Rozhen on Sunday for the Open Day of the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO). Traditionally, the doors of the NAO are opened on Pentecost, which is the patronal holiday of the Sveta Troitsa chappel, located near the entrance to the tower with the two-meter telescope.

Next year, equipment for the radio telescope is to be installed and is planned to be delivered to NAO-Rozhen. "This will be the first such radio telescope in Southeastern Europe, so we are already moving on to studying the sky in the radio range," said Prof. Evgeni Semkov, director of the Institute of Astronomy with NAO Rozhen.

Many years ago it was decided to hold an Open Day on Pentecost, local people honor the holiday, Semkov pointed out. He added that decades ago, when the Observatory was built, the people of the region insisted on preserving the chapel and it has remained as a symbol of spirituality. Students, families with children, and people from all over the country visited the Rozhen Observatory today, admiring the two-meter telescope and the possibilities for observing the starry sky.

Observations with the new 1.5-meter robotic telescope AZ 1500, which was inaugurated in the summer of 2023 at NAO Rozhen, are already part of scientific publications in collaboration with astronomers from different countries. Semkov explained that the astronomers from Rozhen are working with the new telescope on programs in collaboration with colleagues from India, USA, Italy. Unlike previous years, when astronomers had to travel to Rozhen for observations, the new equipment allows to use the data from the observations with the robotic telescope. NAO Rozhen scientists are betting on a more active observing program during the summer months when there are more clear nights.

"We are very satisfied with the quality of the telescope, the technology is developing fast and each newer equipment is better," said Semkov. Next year, radio telescope equipment is planned to be installed on a lawn next to the Observatory. Funding for the delivery of the radio telescope has been secured under the National Roadmap for Research Infrastructure.