Mykolaiv Observatory receives international protection status from UNESCO

Mykolaiv Observatory. Photo: Valentyna Gurova, Suspilne Mykolaiv

The international sign «Blue Shield» — a symbol of the protection of cultural sites during the war — has been installed on the building of the observatory in Mykolaiv.

This was reported by the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of Mykolaiv.

The observatory is an architectural monument of national importance and is included in the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2023, it was included in the list of cultural property under enhanced protection.

A sign for the protection of cultural property was installed at the Mykolaiv Observatory. Photo: Mykolaiv Department of Cultural Heritage Protection

A sign for the protection of cultural property was installed at the Mykolaiv Observatory. Photo: Department of Cultural Heritage Protection of Mykolaiv

During the installation of the sign, experts also inspected the building's condition. According to them, it needs restoration.

As a reminder, the Mykolaiv Observatory is one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. According to archaeological research, in ancient times, the observatory was a Scythian sanctuary.

In addition, as part of the modernisation of the network of higher education and research institutions, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to join the Research Institute «Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory» to the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Education and Science also reported that the Mykolaiv Astronomical Observatory is currently actively cooperating in filling in international astronomical databases, in programmes to support terrestrial aspects of space missions, and in the implementation of targeted integrated space research programmes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine.