Research division
Astronomy, Space Research and Technologies
Institutes and Academic Specialized Units
Daniela /Neli/ Jordanova
Scientific secretary of divisions 6. Climate changes, risks and natural resources and 7. Astronomy, space research and technology
d.jordanova@cu.bas.bg
National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography
Within the division, research is carried out in the field of astronomy, astrophysics, aerospace systems and technologies.
Considerable success has been achieved in studying the development of stars and star clusters and in the search for planets outside the solar system. The achievements in the study of the Sun and the small bodies – the asteroids and comets in the solar system – are world recognized. They have been made thanks to the effective use of the National Astronomical Observatory “Rozhen” which is a national, regional and European astronomical center for research and education.
One of the main areas of the activity is satellite data acquisition and processing and remote observation of the Earth’s surface. Remote and direct methods and equipment for the exploration of the Earth space and planets used for various scientific and applied tasks have been developed. Scientific equipment and research systems for studies with rockets, satellites, planetary probes and piloted space flights have been developed. Data on climate change from solar and cosmic origin is collected. Significant experience has been gained in space biotechnology, biomedical space research and telemedicine.
News
The newly discovered comet 3I/ATLAS is observed by telescopes at NAO Rozhen
Text Figure 1:Composite image of 275 shots in filter R, each 22 s. The white stripes represent background stars, which merge into so-called star treks when the images are combined, and the comet [...]
Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between SRTI-BAS and the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, China
On May 8, 2025, an official meeting and signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Space Research and Technologies Institute of BAS and the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) - a leading [...]
Sweden and UK join LOFAR ERIC
Eight countries are now members of the European Radio Astronomy Research Consortium Infrastructure Sweden and the UK are the new members of LOFAR ERIC (LOFAR European Radio Telescope Research Infrastructure Consortium) following a Council Decision [...]
Study of magnetic activity in a giant star due to planetary engulfment – the most significant scientific achievement of IA with NAO for 2024
"Astronomy & Astrophysics” publishes the results of an international team of scientists with leading Bulgarian participation The Institute of Astronomy with the NAO-BAS has identified the study of magnetic activity in the red giant star [...]
“Zlatno Pero” (Golden Plume) award for a BAS scientist
The Union of Bulgarian Journalists (UBJ) has awarded its highest prize - the Golden Plume Medal to Prof. DSc. Garo Mardirossian from the Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences [...]
Fifty-five years Space Research and Technology Institute
Five cosmonauts at BAS for the anniversary session The Space Research and Technology Institute (SRTI-BAS) celebrated its 55th anniversary as well as the 45th anniversary of the flight of the first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgi Ivanov [...]
Bulgarian scientists to explore near space from Antarctica
Bulgaria's first polar astronomical project will take place in 2024-2025. "Impact of solar activity on ionospheric dynamics and high-energy particle fluxes over Antarctica" is the title of the first Bulgarian polar astronomical research project which [...]
The study of a recurrent nova is the most significant scientific achievement of the Institute of Astronomy with NAO – BAS in 2023
Телескопът с 2-метрово огледало в НАО Рожен Схема на областите на разсейване при RS Oph – екваториална и полярни области The telescope with a 2-meter mirror in NAO Rozhen The results [...]
European Commission approves the establishment of LOFAR ERIC with the participation of Bulgaria
The European Commission approved the establishment of LOFAR ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), in which Bulgaria is a full founding member. The main task of LOFAR ERIC is to provide the European astronomical community with [...]
ScienceDirect publication featuring scientists from the Institute of Astronomy
collage drawing showing high-energy ions from the Sun interacting with the Earth's magnetosphere and attacking the electronics of satellites in orbit around the Earth "A review of Solar Energetic Particles prediction models" [...]
Prof. Garo Mardirosian – Inventor of the Year – 2023
Prof. Garo Mardirosian from the Space Research and Technologies Institute (SRTI) of BAS was awarded the "Inventor of the Year - 2023" prize of the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria. He received the prestigious [...]
New publication with participation of a Bulgarian scientist in “Astronomy & Astrophysics”
Sen. Asst. Prof. Yanko Nikolov, PhD from IA with NAO is a lead researcher in an international team Research conducted with the 2-m telescope at NAO Rozhen with lead researcher Sen. Asst. Prof. Yanko [...]
International scientific conference ”Space, Ecology, Safety – SES 2023”
The International scientific conference "Space, Ecology, Safety - SES 2023" is taking place from 24 to 26 October 2023 at the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS and at the Space Research and Technologies Institute [...]
Exhibition at BAS of first images with the new 1.5-m telescope at Rozhen
An exhibition of images of cosmic objects taken with the new 1.5-m telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory (NAO) Rozhen was opened at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The telescope operates in semi-automatic mode and [...]
A new 1.5-m telescope explores space from NAO Rozhen from 1 July
The modern facility was opened 42 years after the construction of the observatory The new robotic telescope of the Institute of Astronomy - BAS was officially unveiled at 12:00 on July 1 on the [...]
A new experiment with a Bulgarian instrument from the Liulin series on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo spaceplane
Virgin Galactic company has conducted its first commercial mission into suborbital space with the SpaceShipTwo spaceplane. (Virgin Galactic launches first commercial spaceflight (spacedaily.com)) The flight began on June 29, 2023 at 11 a.m. EDT [...]
International conference on stellar research takes place in Sofia
International conference on "Stellar variability, stellar multiplicity" with the participation of 50 scientists from 15 European countries within the project "COST Action #18104 MW-GAIA: Revealing the Milky Way with Gaia” takes place at Sofia [...]
STELLAR Schools on Radio Astronomy Research and Technologies
Undergraduates, Master and PhD students and young scientists in astronomy, physics, engineering, computer science and mathematics can apply for participation in the final three schools of the STELLAR project ("Scientific and Technological Excellence by [...]
The tower for the new telescope at NAO Rozhen is ready
The construction of the tower for the new 1.5-meter telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory in Rozhen at the Institute of Astronomy of BAS has been completed. The 6-meter dome has been installed and the [...]
50 years Bulgaria – space state
A celebration on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bulgaria's proclamation as a space state was held in “Prof. Marin Drinov" Hall of the Academy. The Space Research and Technology Institute (SRTI) of [...]
Scientists from the Institute of Astronomy with NAO take part in a publication in “Nature”
An artistic interpretation of the blazar phenomenon and the jet of high-energy particles it emits The study of BL Lac blazar is by an international team with Bulgarian participation An international team involving Bulgarian [...]
Evolutionary processes in astrophysics: synergy of observations with theory
The North America Nebula - a cradle of star formation The project "Evolutionary processes in astrophysics: synergy of observations with theory" of a team of scientists from the Institute of Astronomy with National [...]
Scientists from the Institute of Astronomy with NAO with publication in „The Astrophysical Journal“
Study reveals in detail the quiet Sun at low frequencies Calibrated interferometric images of the quiet solar corona on 07.08.2021 in low frequencies (24.60-78.90 MHz) observed by LOFAR. The Sun is an active [...]
Bulgarian achievements in space science
Demonstrations with drones and on a stationary training simulator were made by scientists from the Space Research and Technology Institute (SRTI) in the Open Day on the occasion of the International Day of Aviation and [...]