Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory


Georgian National Astrophysical Observatory currently renamed again as Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory was founded in 1932 by Academician Eugene Kharadze on Mount Kanobili, near resort Abastumani. Altitude of Mt. Kanobili varies between 1650–1700 m above sea level.
The observatory is located ~250 km from Tbilisi, capital of Georgia; being distant from the air pollution and sky illumination together with excellent natural conditions makes this place being among the best observatories at the same altitude range. Weather is stable, no harsh and sudden changes.
The Observatory is running wide-profile research, spanning different fields of Astronomy, Astrophysics and investigation of the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

Telescopes

  1. 33 cm Reflector - mounted in 1932, now is in the Museum of GENAO
  2. 40 cm Zeiss Refractor - mounted in 1936
  3. 44 cm Zeiss Schmidt Camera - mounted in 1940
  4. 70 cm Maksutov Meniscus Telescope - 1955
  5. 48 cm Cassegrain Reflector - mounted in 1968
  6. 40 cm Zeiss Double Astrograph - mounted in 1978
  7. 125 cm Ritchey–Chrétien Reflector - mounted in 1977