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Biruni observatory is the
first astronomical observatory in Iran since the time of Khajeh-Nassirud-din
Toussi. The idea to build this center was presented by Prof. Y. Sobouti , in
the year 1972; with his efforts, the installation and the preparation
of the main telescope was performed. The building and
road construction completed in 1976.
The main telescope and the photoelectric photometer,
were installed and made ready for use in March 1977
. The lightening protection
system of the observatory was designed and installed by
Dr. M.Emami. A suitable building
was constructed for the 36-cm telescope, with an sliding dome, by the maintenance
department of Shiraz university in 1979.
The observatory is located on the top of a hill,
in the north west of Shiraz, and is connected to the
University Eram complex and the city of Shiraz, through a road about 10
Km long. Prof. Sobouti was the first director of the observatory. Some of the university professors
and students have been engaged in the
research activities of the observatory. Among these the
following can be named:
M.R.H. Khajehpour (
77 ), J. Siah ( 76-78 ), H. Haddipour ( 78 ), A. Garanjeek ( 78 ), M. Akrami
( 77 ), S.I. Najafi ( 77 ), F. Taati ( 77 ), F. Zamanipour ( 77 ), E.F. Guinan ( 77-78
), J.D. Dorren ( 77-78 ), A. Sanyal ( 77-78 ) , H. Nadgaran (
78 ) , N. Riazi ( 79 ).
The research activities of the center were continued
until some time after the Islamic Revolution, but with the repatriation
of the foreign professors, the professional activities of the center were
discontinued for some time. After the educational reform, a group of the students of Physics includins
H. Nadgaran
, N. Riazi and S.M. Hadavi restarted the astronomical activities.
At present,
the center is directed by N.Riazi, continues its activities under the supervision of the Physics Department of the Shiraz
university. The present activities include observation and investigation of the eclipsing variable stellar dynamics general relativity and cosmology (theoretical).
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