Main Astronomical Observatory of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

The Main Astronomical Observatory (MAO) of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was founded on July 17, 1944 at the initiative of a famous scientist, astronomer and geophysicist Aleksandr Orlov (1880-1954). It is located 12 kilometers to the south of the Kyiv downtown in Golosiyivskyi forest (the informal name is Golosiyivska observatory).

The MAO built several other observatories: on the Maidanak mountain (Uzbekistan), the Bolivian National Observatory (Tarija, Bolivia) and observatory on Terskol (3,100 m, Elbrus, Russia). The last one is now a branch of the MAO.

Since 1991, the Observatory coordinates Ukrainian institutions on the issue of coordinate-time support, contributes to the state space and environmental programs.

The list of telescopes can be found at the official website.

Getting there: The MAO is located on 27 Zabolotnogo St. Take a trolleybus #11 from the Lybidska, Golosiyivska or Vystavkovyi Center metro stations (go to the last stop) or a minibus #156 from the Besarabska Square; runs through the Lybidska, Golosiyivska and Vystavkovyi Tsentr metro stations (get off at the "Astronomichna Observatoriya" ("Astronomical Observatory") stop).

You can walk on the territory of the observatory, but access to the telescopes is limited.
All tours are offered for groups by reservation from Monday to Friday. Groups of 10 persons can visit the museum between 10 am and 4 pm. Groups of 5 people can watch the stars through a telescope between 7 pm and 9 pm. Groups of 20 people can listen to a lecture on any subject of interest. Phone numbers: +38 (044) 526-47-58, (044) 486-23-91.

Kyiv travel agencies offer tours to the observatory, search Google (for example, this company).

Observatory Website in English