Urbex Tour to the Trophy 1m Schmidt Telescope at Byurakan Observatory

This tour takes you to one of the most important scientific centers in Armenia—the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, located in Byurakan village. After a short 40-minute drive from Yerevan, our first stop is the iconic Schmidt telescope, originally commissioned by Adolf Hitler as a gift to Benito Mussolini. The tour can also be tailored to include a visit to ROT54.

This is one of the most popular tours I offer, taking us back to a remarkable story that began with a “gift” from Adolf Hitler to Benito Mussolini.

Hitler commissioned a one-meter Schmidt telescope at the Carl Zeiss factory, known for its precision optics. However, World War II interrupted its construction. After the war, Soviet troops seized the telescope as a trophy during the occupation of Germany.

In 1948, the renowned Armenian astrophysicist Viktor Hambardzumyan visited Germany, including the Carl Zeiss factory, where several unfinished telescopes were stored. These were later transferred to LOMO in Leningrad for final assembly. Among them was the 1-meter Schmidt telescope—originally intended for Mussolini, but ultimately destined for Armenia.

By the late 1950s, preparations began to transport the telescope to the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. Due to its delicate optics, it could not be flown; instead, it was transported by truck at a speed of no more than 15 km/h.

The telescope was installed in 1960, with its official inauguration held on May 8, 1961, attended by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev—a rare case of a head of state taking part in the unveiling of a scientific instrument.

In 1965, astronomer Benjamin Markarian used the telescope to conduct the First Byurakan Survey. This led to the discovery of a large number of faint galaxies (13th–17th magnitude) with excess ultraviolet radiation, later named Markarian galaxies in his honor.

During the visit, you will:

• Enter the telescope tower

• Watch the dome open and rotate

• See massive optical lenses (around 500 kg)

• Explore the control panel, repurposed from a Soviet submarine

• Walk along the panoramic balcony

• See original photographic plate from historic sky surveys—part of the 7,500 images captured by the Schmidt telescope. In 2011, the First Byurakan Survey (1965–1980) was added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Tour Details

Duration: ~3–4 hours
Departure: Yerevan (flexible timing; however, an early start at 8 AM is highly recommended to avoid heavy traffic. Pickup and drop-off are included).

Pricing

• Tour price (1–4 people): 50,000 AMD (total)

• Entrance fee: 15,000 AMD per group (up to 5 people)

Optional additions: