I got off the bus near the entrance to the park. At first it seemed to me that the gates were locked, but I immediately realised my mistake. Only the vehicle gate was locked, both side gates remained hospitable open. On the left post of the gate I read the half-worn inscription "Main Astronomical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences".
The Pulkovo Observatory was opened in 1839. The observatory continues to operate to this day, but over the past five years most astronomical observations have moved to other observatories. It is believed that the air near the metropolis has become insufficiently clear for astronomical observations. The observatory is surrounded by a protective park area.
Near the entrance to the observatory grounds, there are several residential buildings built specifically for the observatory staff. Next to these buildings, I found several flowerbeds with primrose flowers.
There was still snow in the park, but it was a hot day. I dressed with the expectation that the afternoon would be considerably warmer than in the morning, and that was the right tactic. I took off my wool jumper and stowed it in my backpack and carried my mackintosh in my hands, but I still felt like I was dressed too warm. After the snowy start of April, the sudden spring weather felt like a real heat wave.
The park around the observatory is a unique combination of old deciduous forest and lots of urban elements. You can constantly notice a circular pavilion, a detached small house, or a strange polygonal metal construction, the purpose of which you can't guess. Some of the buildings are now under conservation, awaiting conversion into museum pieces.
The main attraction in the observatory is the Great Pulkovo Radio Telescope - a complex structure, which can't be seen standing on the ground, in its entirety. The reflecting surface of the telescope consists of 90 reflecting elements, which can move and rotate; the elements are arranged symmetrically around the meridian of Pulkovo. The radio telescope is now mothballed, and it is difficult to grasp the grandeur of the structure while walking - you just seem to see individual elements and old rails.
The purpose of most of the pavilions remains a mystery. Information boards can be found near the main attractions, but most of the structures you just spot somewhere deep in the forest. These pavilions were built for scientific research, not for the entertainment of tourists. Fortunately, there is the internet, from which you can find out some details.
Most visitors choose a simpler way to get information - as I walked around, I spotted a tour group led by one of the observatory staff. I was a little jealous of these forward-thinking people; not only would they get the most accurate information about the park structures, but they could also visit the main building. Some tour programmes also include astronomical observations.
At the end of the walk I stopped again near the park gate. The bus stop in the opposite direction is opposite, I only had to walk up to it by the underground passage. But I wanted to linger a few more minutes to view and photograph the bas-reliefs that adorn the park gates.
| ā | ā |
|---|---|
| Smartphone | Google Pixel 3a |
| Location | Saint Petersburg, Russia |
This is my entry for the #BeautifulSunday challenge by 
