The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Present status of astronomy in Uzbekistan Prof. Shuhrat Ehgamberdiev Ulugh Beg Institute of Astronomy, Uzbek Academy of Sciences Tashkent, Uzbekistan

History of Maidanak observatory The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The Maidanak mountain was selected as a suitable for astronomical observations site nearly 40 years ago. It was result of almost decade long site testing campaign of the UBAI in 1960s. It is indirect, but nevertheless very important contribution of the Ulugh Beg Astronomical Institute to the astronomical science.

First 25 years the Mt. Maidanak was a site were several scientific institutions of the FSU had installed their facilities and operated them independently for variety astronomical programs. Due to neighborhood with the Soviet Satellite Ranging Station Mt.Maidanak was closed for any foreign organization and individuals.

After collapse of the FSU a new era begins at Maidanak – the era of an international cooperation. Today Maidanak observatory involved to more than 20 collaborative observational programs with astronomical institutions in the U.S., Europe and Asian countries. About two years ago our colleagues from National Astronomical Observatory of Japan initiated the process of development of international coordination of Maidanak activities. By now it involves only Asian countries. I hope in the future we will able to involve to community of Maidanak’s enthusiasts our partners from the US and Europe.

The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Atmospheric conditions at the Maidanak observatory The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Monthly fraction of clear nights Ehgamberdiev et al, 2000 Astron.Astrophys.Suppl.Ser., v p.293.

The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Seeing conditions at Mt. Maidanak Ehgamberdiev et al, 2000 Astron.Astrophys.Suppl.Ser., v p.293.

Relative contribution of the different layers to the overall seeing at Maidanak observatory №LayersLevelContribution of layer References 1.Surface layer m8%Ilyasov & Tillayev, Boundary layer Up to 1-2 km 56%Kornilov, Ehgamberdiev et al, Free atmosphere Above 2 km 30-40%Kornilov, Ehgamberdiev et al, 2009 The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

High towers

Atmospheric parameters relevant to high angular resolution

Atmospheric parameters relevant to high angular resolution observations at Maidanak №ObservatoriesParameters (median) Seeing, arcsec £ 0, m  0, ms  0, arcsec 1.Maidanak La Silla Paranal Cerro Pachon The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Maidanak observatory The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

International collaboration The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

UBAI’s partners as of 2010 QSO/AGNs, BLazars, GRBs, GLSs QSO/AGNs - University of Pittsburgh, USA BLazars - INAF, Torino, Italy GLS/Gaya - EPFL/Geneva Observatory, Switzerland GLS/Galaxies/Asteroseismology - SAI, Moscow GLS - AI KNU, Kharkov, Ukraine GRBs - IKI, Moscow, Russia

UBAI’s partners as of 2010 Stars Clusters, Variable Stars, Asteroids, Transits, Cosmic Debris QSOs/SNs/Clusters/Transits - The Astron. Consortium of Korean Universities, Korea Clusters/Variables - UJF LAOG, Grenoble, France Variables/KH 15D - Wesleyan University, Middletown, USA MBA/NEA asteroids - NAOJ, Tokyo, Japan Cosmic Debris - CAO, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia Cosmic Debris - PulCOO cooperation, Moscow, Russia Earth Shine/Asteroseismology - Tsing Hua University, Taiwan Astroclimate - ESO, Garching, Germany, Univ. of Nice, France

Main fields of scientific research QSOs, AGNs and BL Lac type objects Gamma-ray burst afterglows Gravitationally lensed systems Open clusters Various types of variable stars Asteroids: MBA, NEA, young family Astroclimate Earthshine and asteroseismology with TAT

Scientific output About 250 scientific papers since 1993 (more then 500 since 1970) 35 Ph.D. thesis and 7 Doktor phys.-mat. sciences dissertations since 1993 About 40 young students working at present in UBAI

Attestation Report on Astronomy in the Republic of Uzbekistan Apparently the world is now becoming aware that Maidanak is one of the best astronomical sites in the northern hemisphere, and possibly the best. The future looks quite bright, because international collaboration with Uzbek astronomers will lead to improved infrastructure, telescopes and instruments on Mt Maidanak. A survey of research papers in ADS with at least one Uzbek author and published in the fifteen years 1991 – 2005 since Independence, showed that there were 142 papers published in this time which is unusually high for a developing country. Yours truly John Hearnshaw Professor of Astronomy University of Canterbury, New Zealand Chairperson, Program Group for the World-wide Development of Astronomy IAU Commission 46

Taiwan Automated Telescope

Satellite receiver (Russian) AP-1 AP-2 Owner's dome Enclosure PC HUB Control Room TAT AZT-22 Satellite PC

Other astronomical sites and astronomical education in Uzbekistan The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Yearly amount of clear time ObservatoryClear time in % from maximum possible amount Median seeing, arcsec Maidanak Samarkand Suffa Parkent (in summer) The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Seeing conditions at Uzbekistan sites The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Grubb Parsons Telescope Tower

Grubb Parsons Telescope

Asteroseismology in Samarkand Observatory

Andijan Telescope

Parkent (1100m) Solar furnace The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting,21-25 June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Thanks for your attention! The 2nd Maidanak Users Meeting June 2010, Tashkent, Uzbekistan