| Ankara University Observatory Ankara Üniversitesi Gozlemevi | |
| Organization: | Astronomy and Space Sciences Department Faculty of Science Ankara University |
| Location: | Ahlatlıbel, Gölbaşı, Ankara, Turkey |
| Altitude: | 1256m (4,121feet) |
| Established: | August 26, 1963 |
| Telescope1 Name: | T40 Kreiken |
| Telescope1 Type: | 406mm Reflecting telescope |
| Telescope2 Name: | T35 |
| Telescope2 Type: | 356mm Reflecting telescope |
| Telescope3 Name: | T30 Maksutov |
| Telescope3 Type: | Cassegrain |
| Telescope4 Name: | T15 |
| Telescope4 Type: | Coudé |
| Telescope5 Name: | T20 |
| Telescope5 Type: | 203mm Reflecting telescope |
| Telescope6 Name: | ETX-125 |
| Telescope6 Type: | 127mm Reflecting telescope |
| Telescope7 Name: | Mars Explorer |
| Telescope7 Type: | 70mm Refracting telescope |
| Telescope8 Name: | TAD-2 |
| Telescope8 Type: | 60mm Refracting telescope |
| Telescope9 Name: | TAD-1 |
| Telescope9 Type: | 60mm Refracting telescope |
| Telescope10 Name: | Radio telescope |
| Telescope10 Type: | Regional radio (defunct) |
The Ankara University Observatory (AUG) (Turkish: Ankara Üniversitesi Gözlemevi), is a ground-based astronomical observatory operated by the Astronomy and Space Sciences Department at Ankara University's Faculty of Science. Established in 1959 by Dutch astronomer Egbert Adriaan Kreiken in Ahlatlıbel, Ankara. Currently, it consists of nine optical telescopes and a radio telescope, which is currently taken out of service. Old instruments are displayed in a museum at the observatory.[1]
Ankara University's Faculty of Science decided in 1954 to establish an observatory to begin with astronomical studies. Ahlatlıbel in Gölbaşı, Ankara was chosen as the ideal site, a location with dark skies far from the city's downtown to avoid the effects of light pollution, having an average 300 clear nights per year and also offering easy transportation from the campus. It is situated 8km (05miles) south of Ankara at an altitude of 1256m (4,121feet).[2]
Groundbreaking of the main building and the three domes took place in 1959. The observatory was officially inaugurated on August 26, 1963, accompanied by an international astronomy conference. The scientific studies were carried out in the beginning with a radio telescope produced by the Dutch PTT, a 5 cm astrograph, a 15 cm Coudé telescope of Zeiss from Germany for solar observations, a Hilger and Watts microphotometer and a Cuffey Iris photometer.[2]
Named after Egbert Adriaan Kreiken, the founder of the observatory, it is used in general for photoelectric photometry observations on eclipsing binary stars and variable stars.[3]
Installed in the former Maksutov Dome ın 2011, the 356mm telescope is used for observation on binary stars and photoelectric effects of variable stars.[4]
300mm telescope for observation on binary stars and photoelectric effects of variable stars.[5]
150mm telescope of type Coudé is used for scientific observation of sun spots. Popular and educational public sessions are held also at this telescope.[6]
There is a meteorological station for observing atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and wind direction as well as precipitation amounts. The gathered data is published also on the internet every five minutes.[9]
The observatory is in Ahlatlıbel on İncek Blvd., at a distance of 2km (01miles) from Or-An Bridge (Konya Road) and can be reached by public transportation: