Have you ever traveled through time?
I cannot help but ask this question – absurd as it may be, given that hardly anyone has actually traveled through time in the physical sense.
Yet, the question becomes relevant when you find yourself standing before this science-fiction-esque structure, built in Armenia during the Soviet era. Upon approaching this massive radio telescope, a sense of wonder washes over you; then, you begin to realize the significance of the place – a site that, sadly, has long been abandoned and no longer serves its original purpose.
Inside Herouni’s radio-optical telescope
For enthusiasts of urban tours, as well as those who love technological and futuristic sceneries, this is a truly mesmerizing place. It inevitably evokes conflicting emotions that are difficult to process in the moment.
Panoramic view of Herouni’s radio-optical telescope
The telescope was built during the Soviet era, between 1975 and 1985. The official name of the research center is ROT-54, and its creator is the Armenian radiophysicist Paris Herouni.
ROT-54 Radio-Optical Telescope by Paris Herouni, Orgov village in Armenia.
During those years, when Heruni had been going from office to office within the Soviet bureaucracy for over a decade, an attempt had been made to build this project in Crimea. However, Heruni succeeded in persuading Soviet scientists and government to build the radio-optical telescope and research center in Armenia, at the foot of Mount Aragats, near the village of Orgov. And the Herouni Mirror Radio Telescope is being built based on his design (Зеркальный радиотелескоп геруни)․
The radio telescope’s diameter is 54 meters. It is hemispherical, and fixed to the ground, with a movable secondary mirror with a diameter of 5 meters. [see wikipedia’s article]
Behind the radio telescope, you can see another abandoned industrial structure—the AREV solar power plant—which was also designed and patented by Heruni but never fully realized.
Step back into the Soviet era and experience the atmosphere and stillness of the times; the impressions from Heruni’s radio telescope will stay with you for a long time.
Location and access
- In Orgov village, Aragatsotn Province of Armenia
- Distance from Yerevan: around 40 km (1 hour driving)
- Entrance: Paid, 1000 AMD per person (2,5$)
- It is accessible by any type of vehicle. There is a parking area near the research center.
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