Institute of Astronomy
Kharkiv National University

CHUGUYIV OBSERVATIONAL STATION OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE of Astronomy of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University after the Russian occupation: The war "blinded" university astronomy

The Chuguyiv observational station is located near the village of Ivanovka, region of Chkalovske, Kharkiv district. The station serves as the host of practice of students-astronomers of the university and the basis for research work funded by the state budget and research grant. For 60 years of its existence, the station has been used for the successful implementation of numerous research projects of national and international level.

• Dome of 70-cm telescope AZT-8
• Pavilion of the 40-cm Baker-Schmidt Survey Telescope
• Automatic video-spectral meteor patrol pavilion
• Pavilion of the 25-cm telescope ORI25
• Laboratory and residential building with coherent-optical image processor

The russian occupation of the station by russian troops and illegal russian-led military groups took place in the period of April - September 2022. Employees of the Research Institute of Astronomy were able to visit the station at the end of October 2022. The results of checking the state and condition of the station were shocking.
(See the detailed review - in "Poligon_2022eng.pdf".)

Local electricity grids and water supply systems are critically damaged.

All personal computers, servers and storage systems have been stolen or damaged.

All equipment of the local computer network and Internet connection was stolen.

The AZT-8 tower, astronomical pavilions, laboratory and residential building are partially damaged by debris. Electric drives of the roofs of the pavilions are stolen, their control units are stolen or broken.

In the AZT-8 tower and all the observation pavilions, the doors were broken, the operators' rooms were robbed, control computers and control / power supplies were stolen. AZT-8 accessories have been moved and damaged, all equipment of the automatic video-spectral meteor patrol has been stolen.

Light detectors: Three scientific CCD cameras of Finger Lakes Instrumentation (ML4710, ML0900, PL1001E), WATEC 902H2 TV cameras and QHY CCD camera were stolen or destroyed.

Coherent optical image processor is an object of National Heritage of Ukraine: broken/stolen optical and laser equipment, control and measuring equipment.

Turning, grinding and drilling machines were stolen from the station's workshop.

Thus, as a result of the occupation, the functioning of the Chuguyiv observational station was completely stopped. The occupation of our station by the russian invaders "blinded" university astronomy, destroyed the research infrastructure, which was created and developed by several generations of astronomers. Kharkiv astronomers face the extremely difficult task of restoring the functioning of the station, so the support of the educational and scientific community at the national and international level is critically necessary in these difficult times.

We announce a fundraising for two projects:

We call on all interested people, organizations, and companies to support our initiative through contributions to the Chuguyiv Observational Station Restoration Fund, or in any other convenient way. These funds are necessary for the restoration of observational base with the aim of further full-fledged functioning of the Research Institute of Astronomy of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

Help us restore everything that has been carefully created by generations of Kharkіv astronomers over many decades!

Bank details for charitable contributions:

Contributions in national currency (UAH):
Public organization
«Ukrainian Astronomical Association»,
04053, m. Kyiv, vul. Observatory, 3,
JSC CB "PRIVATBANK", m.Kyiv,
UA123052990000026006036209593
MFI 305299 ZKPO 14288097
In the "Purpose of payment" field, be sure to indicate "Charitable assistance for the restoration of the Chuguyiv observational station."

Foreign currency contributions (Euro):

company Name : UAA
IBAN Code : UA493007110000026005052661527
Name of the bank : JSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE
Bank SWIFT Code : PBANUA2X
Company address : 3, Observatorna, Kyiv Ukraine 040533

Correspondent banks
Account in the correspondent bank : 400886700401
SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank : COBADEFF
Correspondent bank : Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
or
Account in the correspondent bank : 6231605145
SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank : CHASDEFX
Correspondent bank : J.P.MORGAN AG, FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY
Purpose of payment: Сharitable endowment for restoration of the Chuguyiv observational station

Foreign currency contributions (US dollar)

Сompany Name: NGO Ukrainian Astronomical Association
IBAN Code: UA473052990000026033016209070
Name of the bank: JSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE
Bank SWIFT Code: PBANUA2X
Company address : 3, Observatorna, Kyiv Ukraine 040533

Correspondent banks
Account in the correspondent bank: 001-1-000080
SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank: CHASUS33
Correspondent bank: JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York ,USA
or
Account in the correspondent bank: 890-0085-754
SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank: IRVT US 3N
Correspondent bank: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York, USA
or
Account in the correspondent bank: 36445343
SWIFT Code of the correspondent bank: CITI US 33
Correspondent bank: Citibank N.A., NEW YORK, USA

Purpose of payment: Сharitable endowment for restoration of the Chuguyiv observational station

We are going to publish the list of donors.
If you wish to be added to this list, please let us know your name and country

Communication with the Chuguyiv Observational Station Recovery Fund:
email astrofund@astron.kharkov.ua