Erbil Observatory ( ckb, ڕوانگەی ئاسمانیی ھەولێر; ar, مرصد أربيل) is an astronomical
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
in
Erbil
Erbil, also called Hawler (, ar, أربيل, Arbīl; syr, ܐܲܪܒܹܝܠ, Arbel), is the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It lies in the Erbil Governorate. It has an estimated population of around 1,600,000.
Hu ...
, The
Kurdistan Region. It was established in 1973.
History
In 1973 President
Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr ordered the construction of the Erbil Observatory, an
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
with three telescopes.
In the early 1980s about 400 people were working on behalf of
Baresel,
Epple,
Krupp
The Krupp family (see pronunciation), a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, is notable for its production of steel, artillery, ammunition and other armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG (Friedrich Krup ...
,
Liebherr and
Zeiss Zeiss or Zeiß may refer to:
People
*Carl Zeiss (1816–1888), German optician and entrepreneur
*Emil Zeiß (1833–1910), German Protestant minister and painter
Companies
*Carl Zeiss AG, German manufacturer of optics, industrial measurem ...
to build 3 telescopes. In late 1983 they ran tests on the small telescope. Although the building site was close to the war zone, people were safe from the Iran military. 400 people from about 10 countries were working here. Each time the crew flew home for winter holidays, the building-site needed to take safety precautions due to heavy snowfalls. Eventually, the war made it impossible to finish the building. The partly-built Observatories were destroyed by the Iranian rockets launched during the
Iran–Iraq War.
In Art
Hito Steyerl
Hito Steyerl (born 1 January 1966) is a German filmmaker, moving image artist, writer, and innovator of the essay documentary. included the Erbil Observatory in one of her short films.
See also
*
Abdul Athem Alsabti
*
List of astronomical observatories
*
Mount Korek
Mount Korek ( ku, Çîyayê Korek ,چیای کۆڕەک) is a mountain located in Erbil Governorate of the Kurdistan Region, It is 50 kilometers away from the Iranian border.
Observatory
In 1973, President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr ordered the constr ...
*
May Kaftan-Kassim
References
External links
Seeing Stars in IraqRestoring Wrecked Observatory May boost Iraqi ScienceRestoring Wrecked Observatory– Scientific American
Kurdish Amateur Astronomer’s Association{{Portal bar, Iraq, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science
Astronomical observatories in Iraq
1973 establishments in Iraq