Astronomical Observatory - Belogradchik

In 1961 in Belogradchik was built the first school observatory in Bulgaria after the idea of ​​the teacher of physics in high school in the city Hristo Kostov. The official opening of the observatory was on June 21, 1965, not as a school observatory but as a National Astronomical Observatory to the department Prosveta - Vidin and the Ministry of Education. Except as an educational center in Astronomy, it was used as the basis for satellite observations of artificial earth satellites from 1964 to 1974. The Observatory has 15-centimeter telescope "Carl Zeiss", system "Maksutov - Cassegrain", equipped with a stellar and planetary cameras. After that was ordered a new 60-cm telescope "Cassegrain" produced by "Carl Zeiss" - Jena. It is mounted on a six meter dome, and this is the first professional telescope for astronomical observations in Bulgaria. Until 1979, when was put into operation the National Observatory on the Rozhen peak, the 60-centimeter telescope in Belogradchik was the largest in the Balkans and Southeast Europe. Since then, Belogradchik Observatory is a branch of the Institute of Astronomy and National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen at BAS.(Photo: 24 hours)