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Astronomical Observatory

004 K.K. Knorre was the first director, and continued in his post for 50 years

Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory is an architectural monument of national importance. It is one of the oldest observatories of the south-eastern Europe.

Work on the Nikolaev Naval Observatory, the first in southeastern Europe, began in 1821 during the tenure of Governor General Oleksiy Samuilovych Grage

001Chief Architect of the Black Sea Admiralty, F.I. Wunsch, designed the classically styled structure and oversaw its construction.

002The total area occupied by the Observatory is just over 7 hectares. The complex includes the main building, old and modern astronomical pavilions, scientific and administrative buildings, and a surrounding park. All is enclosed by a cast-iron fence.

The Observatory provided the Black Sea Fleet with nautical maps, trained mariners in celestial navigation, reset chronometers, and certified other navigational instruments.

The history of Observatory can be divided into three periods

From 1821 to 1904 it was known as the "Naval Astronomic Observatory" and its primary mission was to support Russia's Black Sea fleet

From 1904 to 1991 the Observatory was administered as part of the Pulkovo observatory and known as the Southern Branch of the Main Astronomic Observatory.

Since 1992 the Observatory has operated as an independent scientific organization. In 2001, the Observatory received a special international recognition when a newly discovered planet was named 8141 Nikolaev to commemorate the Observatory's many contributions to astronomical science.

003 During this period, the Observatory took part in international time determination projects in 1931 and 1938. From 1957 to 1969, it was active in visual and photographic observations of earth orbit satellite. During the 1970s, it initiated and led expeditions to Western Spitsbergen Island and the North Caucasus.

There is no other observatory like it in Ukraine. On the world level, its analogs are Britain's Royal Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Today, the Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory is recognized at the national and international levels as a cultural monument. In 2007, for example, UNESCO placed it on Ukraine's tentative list of world heritage sites.

Since 1992 the Observatory has operated as an independent scientific organization. In 2001, the Observatory received a special international recognition when a newly discovered planet was named 8141 Nikolaev to commemorate the Observatory's many contributions to astronomical science.


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