Erbil Observatory
{{short description|INAO Iraqi Kurdish National Astronomical Observatory}}
{{Infobox observatory
| name = Erbil Observatory
| image = Erbil_Observatory.jpg
| caption = The Erbil Observatory before its destruction
| alt =
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| location = On top of Mount Korek, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| coordinates = {{Coord|36|35|3.26|N|44|27|54|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| altitude = 2,127 m (6,978 ft)
| weather =
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| established = {{Start date|1973}}
| closed = Destroyed during the Iran–Iraq War
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| architect =
| architecture_firm =
| main_contractor = Baresel, Epple, Krupp, Liebherr, Zeiss
| telescope1_name = Telescope 1
| telescope1_type = 30 m Radio
| telescope2_name = Telescope 2
| telescope2_type = 3.50 m Optical
| telescope3_name = Telescope 3
| telescope3_type = 1.25 m Optical
| telescope4_name =
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| map_type = Iraq
| map_dot_label = Erbil Observatory
| map_caption = Location in Iraq
| locmapin = Iraq
| embedded =
}}
Erbil Observatory ({{langx|ckb|ڕوانگەی ئاسمانیی ھەولێر}}; {{langx|ar|مرصد أربيل}}) is an astronomical observatory in Erbil, 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 with three telescopes.{{cite journal|last=Simmons |first=Mike |url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seeing-stars-in-iraq |title=Seeing Stars in Iraq |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0107-23 |journal=Scientific American |date=2007-01-01 |volume=296 |issue=1 |pages=23–25 |pmid=17186825 |accessdate=2015-11-02|bibcode=2007SciAm.296a..23S }}
In the early 1980s about 400 people were working on behalf of Baresel, Epple, Krupp, Liebherr and Zeiss to build 3 telescopes. In late 1983 they ran tests on the small telescope.{{cite journal|title=Astronomy in Iraq |publisher=Adsabs.harvard.edu |date=2006-08-22 |bibcode=2006IAUSS...5E..41A|last1=Alsabti |first1=A. W. |journal=IAU Special Session |volume=5 |page=41 }} 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 included the Erbil Observatory in one of her short films.{{Cite web|url=https://verticalperspectives.tumblr.com/post/148531591228/hito-steyerl-and-vertical-space-time/amp|title=Vertical Perspectives in Moving-Image Media — Hito Steyerl and Vertical Space-Time|website=verticalperspectives.tumblr.com|access-date=2020-02-06}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928231929/http://www.sqlspace.com/iraqi-astronomers-hope-to-restore-war-torn-observatory-vt39975.html/ Seeing Stars in Iraq]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061111014606/http://sps5.saao.ac.za/alsabti.htm Astronomy in Iraq]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071020113448/http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=5&articleID=9373A181-E7F2-99DF-3E352FBE3A2C12EC Restoring Wrecked Observatory May boost Iraqi Science]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160918071119/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/seeing-stars-in-iraq/ Restoring Wrecked Observatory] – Scientific American
- [http://sirood.4mg.com/ Kurdish Amateur Astronomer’s Association]
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