Rozhen Observatory

Rozhen Observatory (Bulgarian: Национална астрономическа обсерватория - Рожен, НАО-Рожен; English: National Astronomical Observatory - Rozhen, NAO-Rozhen), also known as the Bulgarian National Astronomical Observatory, is an astronomical observatory, located in the Smolyan Province, 90 kilometers south of the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The nearest town, Chepelare, is 15 kilometers away. The observatory is owned and operated by the Institute of Astronomy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). It was officially opened on 13 March 1981, almost 20 years after Bogomil Kovachev – a professor of astronomy at BAS, known as its founder – had started working towards that goal.[1][2] The Observatory is the largest in Southeastern Europe[3] and has an active team of about 50 astronomers. It is the principal center for astronomical research in Bulgaria. The minor planet 6267 Rozhen, was discovered at, and named after the observatory.[4]

Rozhen Observatory

Large Telescope Dome of the Rozhen Observatory
Organization	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Observatory code	071
Location	Near Chepelare, Bulgaria
Coordinates	41°41′36″N 24°44′20″E
Altitude	1759 m
Website	NAO-Rozhen
Telescopes
Ritchey-Chretien-Coude telescope 200 cm Cassegrain telescope 60 cm Cassegrain reflector Schmidt telescope 50/70 cm Solar Coronagraph telescope 15 cm
Location of Rozhen Observatory
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With its total cost of over $10 million at the time, it still remains to day the largest one-time investment in scientific infrastructure that Bulgaria ever made.[3]

Telescopes

• 200 cm Ritchey-Chretien telescope (supplied with Coude focus)[5]
• 60 cm Cassegrain telescope
• 50/70 cm Schmidt camera
• 15 cm Solar telescope

Bogomil Kovachev, founder of the Rozhen Observatory, with a group of visiting Bulgarian scholars in the summer of 1987