TÜBİTAK ULUSAL GÖZLEMEVI - OBSERVATOIRE NATIONAL TÜBITAK

The idea of establishing a national observatory and thus serving the cause of astronomy in Turkey first came in 1960 from astronomers Hatice Nüzhet Gökdoğan (1910-2003) and Abdullah Kızılırmak (1925-1983). Support for such an initiative was almost immediate, to the point of quickly seeing the creation of a specialized scientific unit called the Space Science Research Unit in Tübitak in 1979. A few years later, this unit became the "National Observatory Site Project". In 1983, the first work began under the supervision of seven renowned researchers representing Ankara, Istanbul, Aegean, Bosphorus and the Middle East Technical University. 17 sites were initially in competition to host the observatory, some of them on mountain peaks, before this selection was reduced to 4 sites studied with the greatest care, in particular to determine their meteorological conditions, number of nights released per year, atmospheric stability, hygrometry, light pollution, etc., including Muğla (Kurdu - 1,612 m), İzmir (Ödemiş - 2,159 m), Adıyaman (Nemrut - 2,206 m) and Antalya (Bakırlıtepe - 2,547 m). The latter was finally chosen, offering the best characteristics compatible with professional astronomical observations. Needless to say, it was not easy to set up such a scientific structure at such an altitude! A first - small - telescope was installed (400 mm in diameter) and became operational in 1997, before others took over, including the centrepiece of the observatory, the RTT150 - a 1.5 m diameter telescope - which received its first light in September 2001. This telescope is simply the largest in the country, the result of a collaboration between Turkey and Russia established in 1998. Among the Russian companies that have worked on the telescope mirror, let us mention the Lomo company, well known to astronomy enthusiasts.

This very interesting observatory is difficult to visit! To our knowledge, it is mandatory to register for the Festival d'Observation du Ciel National to access it, which takes place every year during the month of August (like the Nuits des étoiles organised every year in France). Bad news: you have to do it well in advance to be able to participate and you have to stay there for several days to enjoy all the activities, including the visits to the observatory (so you have to plan the accommodation accordingly)! Good news: this registration is very cheap, and even includes the trip from Antalaya for those who are not motorized! In any case, here is an extremely atypical high-altitude star party that will inevitably leave beautiful memories for passing astronomers.