ABOUT HISTORY AND CURRENT SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY OF BATABAT ASTROPHYSICS OBSERVATORY
The Batabat section of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory was established on the basis of decision No. 13 adopted by the Presidium of the EA of the Azerbaijan SSR on March 25, 1971. In a short period of time, the location of the future observatory in Batabat was chosen, and researches for the study of astroclimate were started there. The selected site was located at an altitude of 2050 m above sea level. As a result of the recruitment of local young people who graduated from Moscow, Leningrad and Baku universities, a collective with strong scientific potential was created in a short time in the Batabat division. 10 years after the establishment of the station, 4 people were candidates and 4 people were continuing their education in different forms. In 1974, the first large telescope - the Solar Coronagraph - was built in the Batabat section. Soon, through that telescope, observations were started within the framework of research in the field of solar physics and very interesting scientific results were obtained.
In a very short time, the Batabat division established contact with the astronomical centers of the former Soviet Union. In 1976, a total solar eclipse was observed here. Even though the Batabat division was part of the SARC, it could act completely freely in certain matters. So, in 1978-1979, All-Union conferences on comets were held in Batabat. In the 70s and 80s, more than 120 scientific works of the chair's employees were published in many prestigious scientific journals of the USSR and Europe.
Since 1969, the permanent expedition of the Pulkova Observatory has started to operate in Aghdara, which is located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level in Ordubad region. By the decision of the Presidium of EA of Azerbaijan on November 5, 1997, the Aghdara Astronomical Station was merged into SAR.
On August 7, 2002, there was a decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the Nakhchivan Division of ANAS. According to the order, 6 independent research institutions were established within ANAS NB, one of which was the Batabat Astrophysics Observatory. The Batabat Astrophysics Observatory was established on the basis of the territory, material and technical base and personnel potential of the Batabat division of the SCAR and the Aghdara Astronomical Station. The Batabat Astrophysical Observatory started its actual operation in January 2003.
In the years of independence, the state care for science and education in the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan MR, also included BAR. As a result of this care, in 2004, in the city of Nakhchivan of BAR, in 2006-2007, in the area where the Batabat branch of SAR is located, an administrative building that meets all modern requirements was built and given to the staff of the Observatory. The "Zeiss-600" telescope was sent to the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, modernized and installed in Batabat in September 2007.
The observatory was under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan from 2023 to 2025.
Decree signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On additional measures to optimize the activity and increase the efficiency of scientific institutions under the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was signed on April 4, 2025. According to the order, the Batabat Astrophysical Observatory was placed under Nakhchivan State University.
The Batabat Astrophysical Observatory consists of an administrative building in the city of Nakhchivan, the Batabat station and the Aghdara station in Ordubad region.
Photometry and computer rooms have been put into use in the new two-story administrative building in Batabat area. Since the observations in the observatory are mainly carried out at night, two bedrooms have been allocated in the building.In addition to local experts, employees of the science laboratory of the Astronomy Institute of Moscow State University also participated in the process of building the telescope.
The observatory is located at an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level and at a latitude of 39 degrees.
2 departments operate in the observatory:
- "Positional Observations of Celestial Bodies" Department
In the "Positional Observations of Celestial Bodies" department, scientific-research works are conducted on "Observations and Research of Solar System Bodies" (Mainly small bodies of the Solar System: comets). - "Photometry of celestial bodies" department
"Photometric observations of bright stars" are studied in the "Photometry of celestial bodies" department. Scientific work is mainly related to photometry of symbiotic stars (CH Cyg, AG Dra, AG Peg, etc.), young stars (AS205, HAeBe, AS 442 and AS 310, etc.), photo-spectrometric observations of Prosion and Arcturus stars.
The device in the observatory: "Zeiss-600" telescope. Made in Germany.
8 employees are directly engaged in scientific research at the observatory. 1 electronic engineer and 1 laboratory assistant provide assistance to scientific research work. Scientific research works are carried out by employees of 2 departments in 1 scientific direction, 1 problem, 2 topics, 2 jobs and 8 stages.
Structure
1. Mammadov Ruslan Tavakgul oglu - director
2. Askerli Fazli Shukur oglu - chief accountant
3. Pashayeva Gulnar Teyyub gizi - human resources specialist, celestial body position observation department
4. Dadashov Alovsat Safar oglu - leading scientific worker 5. Gafarova Vafa Ajdar gizi - scientific worker
6. Hasanov Agali Ali oglu - leading electronic artist
7. Safarov Veli Qiyas oghlu - laboratory assistant, Chair of Photometry of Celestial Bodies
8. Mammadli Azad Hidayat oglu - head of department #9. Tahirov Mirhasan Mammad oglu - leading scientific worker
10. Valiyev Ulvu Sayyad oglu - senior scientific worker
11. Mammadova Turkan Museyib gizi - scientific worker
12. Huseynova Faida Surkhay gizi - junior scientific worker, Household staff
13. Hasanova Inci Etibar gizi - computer operator
14. Ismayilov Etibar Hasan oglu – driver #15. Guliyev Rafail Hazi oglu - electrical fitter
16. Safarov Radig Yusif oghlu - guard
17. Nasirov Afiq Mammad oghlu - guard
18. Hajiyev Seymur Haji oglu - guard
19. Mehdiyev Murad Mehdi oglu - guard
20. Seyidov Mirgasim Mirali oghlu - guard
21. Mehdiyev Kamran Gasham oglu - guard
22. Madadova Gunay Asker girl - housekeeper
23. Safarova Shahana Surkhay gizi - housekeeper
24. Rahimova Nurangiz Ayyub girl - housekeeper