THE ALMA-ATA OBSERVATORY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160372-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 372
• Publication Date: March 3, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160372-0
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160372-0
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160372-0 ~
STAT ,
THE ALMA-ATA OBSERVATORY
The following information was taken from one of a series of
articles published in the Luxembourg official Communist weekly
Wochen-ZeitunR> in which a staff writer, Evy Friedrich, reports
on n journey through the USSR]
The Alma-Ata Observatory is located on n mountain above Almn-Ata and can
be reached by automobile over a dirt roa3. It consists of a group of primitive
shacks built of plnn}cs or corrugated metal. The roofs may be opened by pulling
at wire ropes. Anew observatory buildin,; with a dome is under construction,
however.
'fhree of the astronomers who received the visitors knew foreign languages.
They are exploiting foreign astronomical periodicals published in English,
French, and German, reporting to each other oa the results.
The French-spenkin~ member, a youn; girl, demonstrated to the visitors one
oi' the telescopes in a wooden shack; the only other equipment in the room was
n plain writing table. In order to cwl;e observations, the worker has to lie on
the floor and cover one of his eyes with his hoar}. The telescope in question,
equipped with :~ clockwork mechnrism, was used ?o observe solar prominences.
In another shed, on n flat roof, is the most powerful camera in the world
for sky photography. Photographs of hfars and of the sun, presented at a recent
astronomers' conference in Rome, were taken at the Alma-Ata Observatory.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700160372-0