Translated material
Pulkovo: Bulldozer continues to work
The history of resistance to the development of the territory of the Pulkovo observatory continues. Our previous publication on this occasion was in the number of the TRV-hunger of January 31 [1]. The selection included the opinions of Alexei Moiseev (special astrophysical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Vladimir Surdin (State Astronomical Institute named after P.K. Sternberg Moscow State University) and the author of this commentary.
Let me remind you that Moiseev clearly spoke out for the cessation of observations in the Pulkovo observatory, since they have long lost its importance due to poor observation conditions, and for the transfer of the observation base of Pulkovo to the Caucasus. Surdin suggested that the observations still represent value thanks to astrometry, well -established for the long history of Pulkovo, and the territory is of value from the point of view of educational goals.
During the time that passed from that publication, something has changed. Firstly, the RAS commission was organized to assess the situation with Pulkovo. The decision of the commission is not published, but in general it is known. We asked to comment on this decision by Nikolai Samusya, who is not a member of the commission, at only one of her meetings, but knows the general situation well.
Secondly, Pulkovo researchers, engaged in astrometric observations, went into a counterattack, convincing the society that they were doing the right thing. We preferred to get a comment on this matter not from the employees of the observatory themselves, but from the employee of the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences Eleanor Yagudina, who uses Pulkovo data.
And finally, our opinion.
Development must be resisted by all means not only because it worsens the conditions of observation. The following is more important:
- The territory of science is lost, which can be used in the future, most likely, for educational purposes (for example, as a park museum);
- Another precedent of the scientific real estate trade is created, seductive for both developers and scientific administrators with non -hard convictions. There are still many tidbine territories remained in the jurisdiction of the fan, especially in Moscow on Leninsky Prospekt;
- An excellent landscape is disfigured, which Peter guests can be admired even when planting the aircraft;
- insulting not only to employees of the observatory, but also to Petersburgers who love their city and its environs;
- As a result of the development of IT and changes in the labor market, megalopolises will soon lose their attraction field, and the navigated sleeping areas with a bastard infrastructure will turn into a dull ghetto.
Our opinion on the continuation of the observation program in Pulkovo.
-Despite its antiquity, the main tool of the observatory, a 26-inch refractor, remains an excellent tool for measuring the position of celestial bodies. For example, his data was recently used to calibrate the GAIA space observatory. The operation of the telescope almost does not require financing. So far, there are people who, using the tool, are in demand with applied value, in particular, playing a role in astronautics and protection against asteroid danger, it should work. The development of the observation base in the Caucasus should in no way be associated with the continuation of observations in Pulkovo.
PS The Pulkovo Observatory appeared an unexpected ally - Pulkovo Airport. They have already lost one safety score due to nearby construction projects, and due to the construction of a new microdistrict, they will lose another one. But the bulldozer continues to work ...
Boris Stern,
editor-in-chief of the TRV-hunger,
Astrophysicist (Institute of Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences)
1. . Pulkovo: VS skyscrapers VS posters // TRV-hunger, No. 221 dated January 31, 2017.