Eyüboğlu Educational Institutions is the first school among secondary education institutions in Turkey to establish an observatory and include astronomy classes in its curriculum.
With a pioneering and innovative approach, our first observatory was opened at the Çamlıca campus in the 1997-1998 academic year, allowing our students to connect with the sky for over a quarter of a century. The aim is to introduce students to the fundamental science of astronomy, which serves as the basis for all sciences, and to help them understand the relationships among various scientific disciplines.
The first observatory, established with the highest technological standards and equipment in the world, was complemented by a second observatory in the 1999-2000 academic year. In 2014, another observatory was made available to our students at the Kemerburgaz campus, and in 2017, a planetarium was opened on the same campus. With evolving technology, astronomy, which captivates a significant portion of the younger generation's interest, becomes even more intriguing with our observatories and planetarium.
Immersive Astronomy Education at Eyüboğlu: Where Learning Comes to Life
In addition to astronomy classes in the curriculum, students of all levels engage in telescope observation activities and night observations at our observatories. The planetarium is also utilized for various subjects such as geography, allowing students to benefit from these learning environments. The school encourages students to observe and engage in astrophotography through various activities. The Sky and Astronomy Festival, a traditional event held since 1997, is a unique and special activity for our school, where future space scientists meet with extensive opportunities, enriched with various student presentations. Each year, our students participate in the "Scientist for a Day" article competition organized by NASA, gaining experience in writing scientific articles on astronomy. Winning awards in this global competition is a source of pride for our students.
Celestial Encounters: Eyüboğlu Observatory Welcomes Renowned Astronauts
American astronaut Charles Moss Duke, one of the astronauts who set foot on the Moon with the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, visited Eyüboğlu Educational Institutions' Çamlıca campus on September 27, 1997. He shared his unique experience with our students and signed the famous Moonwalk photo for them. Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space and take command of the International Space Station (ISS), visited our school and observatory on May 15, 2018. During the visit, he shared his experiences and observations with our students.
Looking at the Sky with High-Standard Technical Equipment
Our observatories are equipped with two Meade LX200 model telescopes with a 30 cm mirror diameter and one Meade LX600 model telescope with a 35 cm mirror diameter. These telescopes can be controlled manually or with computer support. Our telescopes, which can be directed towards approximately 145,000 celestial objects with a single button, make it possible to observe millions of celestial bodies with the accompanying computer program. Thanks to the Starlock device on the LX600 model telescope, tracked celestial bodies can be observed without missing them.
Exploring the Cosmos: Sun Observation Equipment, Filters and Eyepieces at Eyüboğlu Observatory
Special solar filters attached to the front of the telescope allow safe observation of the Sun. The color sphere (chromosphere) and light sphere (photosphere) layers of the Sun, as well as explosions and spots on these layers, can be examined. In addition to solar filters, the Meade 4000 series filters allow detailed examination of craters and colored belts of the Moon and planets, and observations of nebulas can be made with the Narrow Band 911N filter. With a variety of eyepieces ranging from 5 mm to 40 mm by Meade and Bresser brands, celestial bodies can be observed in different sizes and details.
Capturing the Cosmos: Cutting-Edge Imaging Equipment at Eyüboğlu Observatory
The Celestron Nightscape color CCD camera and Canon 6D camera, attached to the telescope with an adapter, can record the images of celestial bodies. Recorded digital images can be processed in a computer environment and used as data for scientific research. Additionally, during important celestial events, the telescope's image can be shown live in classrooms through our school's web network. The 3-meter domes protecting our observatories were obtained from ASH-DOME, one of the world's leading dome companies, and brought from the United States to be installed on our campuses.