The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO, obs. code: 095) is located at Nauchnij research campus, near the Central Crimean city of Bakhchysarai, on the Crimean peninsula. CrAO is often called simply by its location and campus name, Crimea–Nauchnij, still ranks among the worldwide most prolific discovery sites for minor planets.[2]
CrAO has also been publishing the Bulletin of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory since 1947, in English since 1977. The observatory facilities (IAU code 095) are located on territory of settlement of Nauchnyi since the mid-1950s; before that, they were further south, near Simeiz. The latter facilities still see some use, and are referred to as the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory–Simeiz (IAU code 094).
Observatory leaders
1945–1952: Grigory Shajn - head of construction, the first director of the Observatory at Nauchny.
A view to the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and Nauchnij from the nearby place called "Скалы" ("The Rocks"). Observatory domes seen above the line of horizon are (from left to right) 2.6-m ZTSH telescope, 1.25-m AZT-11 telescope, and BST-1 Solar telescope.
The large optical 2.6-metre Shajn telescope is named after Grigory Shajn(left); The 122-cm Babelsberg telescope and the BST-1 Solar telescope(middle); Rally for the rescue of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 2013 (right).
^ ab"Minor Planet Discovery Sites". Minor Planet Center. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016. The following table lists the total number of discoveries made at each of the most prolific discovery sites, arranged in decreasing order of number of discoveries.
