Science from the Inside showed the legendary Sintez telescope: the world's first segmental instrument is being brought back to life

The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (KrAO) is filming a documentary about the Synthesis telescope, a unique instrument that was created in the late 1970s and was far ahead of its time. The new issue of the popular science program "Science from the Inside" tells the story of this forgotten giant, its unusual design and plans for its revival.

 

Sintez is the world's first telescope with a segmented main mirror made up of hexagonal fragments. This scheme is currently used by the largest observatories on the planet (for example, the Keck telescope in Hawaii or the future ELT), but Soviet engineers applied it back in the late 1970s. The idea was revolutionary: instead of casting a single giant mirror (which is technologically difficult and expensive), you can assemble it from small identical segments.

 

However, after a period of active operation in the 1980s, the telescope was abandoned. For decades, the unique instrument was rusting in the mountains of Crimea, until enthusiasts noticed it.

 

Today, a team of like-minded people is actively restoring Synthesis. A temporary telescope has already been installed, which allows for research and testing of modern astronomical software. In parallel, a new main mirror with a diameter of 1 meter is being prepared.

 

The main goal is to return the telescope to full—fledged scientific work. According to the plans, the completion of the modernization and the launch of the updated tool are scheduled for the end of 2028.

 

In the film, astronomer and researcher at KrAO Sergey Nazarov explains in detail:

• what is unique about Synthesis and why its design is still not outdated;
• what materials were used to make mirrors, from ceramic glasses to modern composites;
• how segmented and adaptive optics work, which compensate for atmospheric distortions;
• what scientific benefits will the telescope be able to bring after modernization?

 

The running time of the film is almost an hour, but it looks in one go thanks to the combination of historical retrospect, engineering details and the inspiring story of bringing a forgotten device back to life.

 

The creators of the project do not hide their ambitions: the new Synthesis should become not just a museum exhibit, but an active tool for astrophysical research. The film shows in detail:

• configuration of the future telescope;
• a temporary scheme with modern software;
• necessary infrastructure;
• The expected scientific results range from observations of variable stars to the search for exoplanets.

Science from the Inside continues a series of reports on forgotten and revived scientific instruments. Previous editions of the program have already talked about other unique objects of Russian science.

 

The project was implemented with the support of the Frontiers of Science Scientific and Technological Guild. You can watch the release on the following platforms: VKontakte, Zen, YouTube.