Years ago, during the age of the Soviet Union, visionary radio-physicist Paris Herouni decided the time had come to unveil his groundbreaking tool developed to study the universe: the Orgov radio-optical telescope, otherwise known as ROT-54. To bring his vision to life, he engineered and built an enormous 54-metre dish and a brilliantly designed oscillating mechanism on three curved trusses, with an optical telescope at the top and a secondary mirror of the radio teloscope at the bottom. The telescope, emitting an ultra-low level of sound, was particularly sensitive to cosmic signals, intended to capture signs of extraterrestrial civilisations and study relic radiation. But along the way, something went wrong.
Now the once-mighty giant rests on the slope of Mount Aragats, not far from another of Herouni's forgotten, monolithic creations: the Arev Solar Thermal Power Station.
How did it happen that such a monumental scientific achievement became little more than an open-air exhibit and a fading memory? Is the collapse of the USSR solely to blame for the abandonment of this project, or is the story more complex? We invite you to uncover the the answers to these questions while standing on the edge of a colossal dish, experiencing the brilliance of a creative mind first-hand, and hearing the mind-numbing echoes of your own voice within the walls of the metallic hemisphere.
The program lasts about 4 hours, departing from Yerevan, Komitas Avenue 1, and includes a small picnic with tea.
Daytime: 11:00–15:00
Evening: 18:00–22:00
Cost: 20,000 AMD per person. Groups of 6 to 12 people.