Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Crimean Astrophysical Observatory) was born at the beginning of the century near the village XXgo Simeiz on the mountain cat, as a private observatory of a rich man and a great lover of astronomy Nicholas Maltsova.

In 1912 Maltsov handed her a gift Pulkovo Observatory, after which the Crimean Observatory started to turn into a full-fledged research center, conducting photometry of variable stars and minor planets. A year in the 1926m there was a set-meter reflector English, the largest in Europe at that time.

Second World War destroyed the observatory. But in June, 1945go, it was decided on its restoration, and creation of a more serious observatory in the central Crimea, where Astroclimate suitable for installation of the largest telescopes. The place chosen by astronomers carefully: on the one hand, here you can easily pave the way and the communication from the neighboring villages and Bakhchisarai, on the other hand, due to its proximity to the reserve and the unique landscape, the observatory has a dark sky and a calm atmosphere. Now the main part of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory located in the village of Research at the height of 550-600m, on the southern slopes of Celles-Buhra. It created a real town, with researcher-developed infrastructure: labs, workshops, their own schools and kindergartens, libraries, hotels, and beautiful park! Pine, lime, blue spruces, cedars of Lebanon against the backdrop of the huge white domes and the eternal blue of the Crimean mountains leave an indelible impression ...

In the observatory employs about 400 people, of which about 100 - academics. Today it is one of the largest research institutions of the CIS, which conducts research in the following areas:

1. Physics of stars and galaxies.
2. Solar physics.
3. Radio astronomy
4. Gamma-ray astronomy.
5. Experimental Astrophysics.
6. Optical production.

Subject scientific works of scientists is very extensive. For example, in the physics laboratory of stars and galaxies are studied: Magnetism and Activity of stars, the structure of stellar atmospheres, variable stars, interacting binary stars, active galactic nuclei, asteroids and satellites of planets. In the laboratory of physics of the Sun - sunspots and flares, magnetic field, prominences, pulsation of the Sun, and more.

CrAO closely linked to a nearby Crimean Laboratory of Sternberg Astronomical Institute Shternberg ( SAI). Total in both institutions more than the 20-telescopes, nearly all are permanent observation of celestial objects.