Byurakan Observatory (Armenian: Բյուրական Աստվար), is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. It is located in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia, on the slopes of Mount Aragats, about 30 km northwest of Yerevan. The observatory was founded in 1946 by Victor Ambartsumian, and has been home to many important discoveries, including the first identification of a quasar.
Today, the Byurakan Observatory comprises two main telescopes: The Armenian-Russian 6m telescope (ARM) and the 1m Schmidt telescope. These telescopes are used for a variety of research projects, from studies of our own Solar System to surveys of distant galaxies. The observatory also houses a museum which is open to visitors.
The Byurakan Observatory has played an important role in our understanding of the Universe. Some of its most notable achievements include:
The discovery of Herbig-Haro objects – These are clouds of gas which form when young stars eject material into space at high speeds. This ejection process can create stunningly beautiful images, as seen in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope: