Renewed Observatory of Abastumani to Have a New Function

Rehabilitation of Abastumani's observatory is already finished.

The observatory will have an additional function soon. This involves presenting informational center for visitors, cafe, working and exhibition place and restoration of existed library. Adjacent territories of observatory will also be upgraded.

the first alpine astrophysical observatory, was founded in 1932 on the territory of the former Soviet Union. It is located on Mount Khanobili, around 240 km from Tbilisi, and 30 km in the north-west from Akhaltsikhe, at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level.

Mount Khanobili is characterized by unique conditions for astronomical observations. As early as in the 1890s, prominent Russian astronomer Sergej von Glasenapp, who was a companion and a friend of the Tsar's brother, spent two seasons in Abastumani, the renowned Caucasus winter resort. Professor Glasenapp measured locations of close binary stars with a small lens telescope in a tower, which is still known as “Glasenapp tower” and which is currently located in the vicinity of the Abastumani Observatory.

Nearly 10,000 tourists visit observatory every year.