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The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Present status of astronomy in Present status of astronomy in UzbekistanUzbekistan
Prof. Shuhrat Ehgamberdiev Ulugh Beg Institute of Astronomy,
Uzbek Academy of SciencesTashkent, Uzbekistan
History of Maidanak observatory
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• The Maidanak mountain was selected as a suitable for astronomical observations site nearly 40 years ago. It was result of almost decade long site testing campaign of the UBAI in 1960s.
• It is indirect, but nevertheless very important contribution of the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute to the astronomical science.
• First 25 years the Mt. Maidanak was a site were several scientific institutions of the FSU had installed their facilities and operated them independently for variety astronomical programs.
• Due to neighborhood with the Soviet Satellite Ranging Station Mt.Maidanak was closed for any foreign organization and individuals.
• After collapse of the FSU a new era begins at Maidanak – the era of an international cooperation. Today Maidanak observatory involved to more than 20 collaborative observational programs with astronomical institutions in the U.S., Europe and Asian countries.
• About two years ago our colleagues from National Astronomical Observatory of Japan initiated the process of development of international coordination of Maidanak activities. By now it involves only Asian countries. I hope in the future we will able to involve to community of Maidanak’s enthusiasts our partners from the US and Europe.
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Atmospheric conditions at the Maidanak observatory
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Monthly fraction of clear nights
Ehgamberdiev et al, 2000 Astron.Astrophys.Suppl.Ser., v. 145. p.293.
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Seeing conditions at Mt. Maidanak
Ehgamberdiev et al, 2000 Astron.Astrophys.Suppl.Ser., v. 145. p.293.
Relative contribution of the different layers to the overall seeing at Maidanak observatory
№ Layers Level Contribution of layer
References
1. Surface layer
5.5-25.5 m
8% Ilyasov & Tillayev, 2004
2. Boundary layer
Up to 1-2 km
56% Kornilov, Ehgamberdiev et al, 2009
3. Free atmosphere
Above 2 km
30-40% Kornilov, Ehgamberdiev et al, 2009
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
High towers
Atmospheric parameters relevant to high angular resolution
Atmospheric parameters relevant to high angular resolution observations at Maidanak
№ Observatories Parameters (median)
Seeing, arcsec
£0, m
0, ms 0,
arcsec
1. Maidanak 0.69 25.9 12.0 2.48
2. La Silla 0.87 25.0 4.2 1.26
3. Paranal 0.66 22.0 1.90
4. Cerro Pachon 36.0 2.80
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Maidanak observatory
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
International collaboration
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
UBAI’s partners as of 2010
QSO/AGNs, BLazars, GRBs, GLSs
•QSO/AGNs - University of Pittsburgh, USA•BLazars - INAF, Torino, Italy•GLS/Gaya - EPFL/Geneva Observatory, Switzerland•GLS/Galaxies/Asteroseismology - SAI, Moscow•GLS - AI KNU, Kharkov, Ukraine•GRBs - IKI, Moscow, Russia
UBAI’s partners as of 2010
Stars Clusters, Variable Stars, Asteroids, Transits, Cosmic Debris
•QSOs/SNs/Clusters/Transits - The Astron. Consortium of
Korean Universities, Korea•Clusters/Variables - UJF LAOG, Grenoble, France•Variables/KH 15D - Wesleyan University, Middletown, USA •MBA/NEA asteroids - NAOJ, Tokyo, Japan•Cosmic Debris - CAO, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia•Cosmic Debris - PulCOO cooperation, Moscow, Russia•Earth Shine/Asteroseismology - Tsing Hua University, Taiwan•Astroclimate - ESO, Garching, Germany, Univ. of Nice, France
Main fields of scientific research
• QSOs, AGNs and BL Lac type objects• Gamma-ray burst afterglows• Gravitationally lensed systems• Open clusters• Various types of variable stars• Asteroids: MBA, NEA, young family• Astroclimate• Earthshine and asteroseismology with TAT
Scientific output
• About 250 scientific papers since 1993 (more then 500 since 1970)
• 35 Ph.D. thesis and 7 Doktor phys.-mat. sciences dissertations since 1993
• About 40 young students working at present in UBAI
Attestation Report on Astronomy in the Republic of Uzbekistan
Apparently the world is now becoming aware that Maidanak is one of the best astronomical sites in the northern hemisphere, and possibly the best. The future looks quite bright, because international collaboration with Uzbek astronomers will lead to improved infrastructure, telescopes and instruments on Mt Maidanak.
A survey of research papers in ADS with at least one Uzbek author and published in the fifteen years 1991 – 2005 since Independence, showed that there were 142 papers published in this time which is unusually high for a developing country.
Yours trulyJohn HearnshawProfessor of AstronomyUniversity of Canterbury, New ZealandChairperson, Program Group for the World-wide Development of AstronomyIAU Commission 46
Taiwan Automated Telescope
Satellite receiver (Russian)
AP-1 AP-2
Owner's dome
EnclosurePC
HUBHUB
Control Room
TAT AZT-22
Satellite
PC
Other astronomical sites and astronomical education in
Uzbekistan
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting ,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Yearly amount of clear time
Observatory Clear time in % from maximum possible amount
Median seeing, arcsec
MaidanakSamarkandSuffaParkent
585450
80 (in summer)
0.701.541.051.01
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting ,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Seeing conditions at Uzbekistan sites
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting ,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Grubb Parsons Telescope Tower
Grubb Parsons Telescope
Asteroseismology in Samarkand Observatory
Andijan Telescope
Andijan Telescope
Parkent (1100m) Solar furnace
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting ,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Thanks for your attention!
The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting 21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan