Дзеркальний телескоп Шайна, Mirror telescope in Nauchnyi, Crimea
The Shaina Mirror Telescope is an astronomical instrument mounted in the Crimean mountains, equipped with a primary mirror measuring 2.64 meters across. Located at roughly 600 meters elevation, the installation benefits from mountain conditions that support precise observations of distant celestial objects.
The telescope was completed in 1960 and ranked as the third largest astronomical instrument in the world at that time. Its design contributed significantly to the development of modern observation techniques in Soviet astronomy.
The telescope bears the name of Hryhorii Abramovych Shaino, who discovered asteroid 1709 at the Simeiz Observatory, later named Ukraine in 1967.
The mountain location offers consistently good viewing conditions for observations, especially during cooler months when the air is clearer. Visitors should expect the elevation and possible weather changes that are typical of mountain sites.
The facility operates alongside a 22-meter radio telescope that enables observations in the radio spectrum. This combination of optical and radio instruments makes the site a versatile research center for different kinds of astronomical investigations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
