The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO, observatory code: 095) is located at Nauchnij research campus, near the Central Crimean city of Bakhchysarai, on the Crimean peninsula. CrAO is often called simply by its location and campus name, CrimeaâÂÂNauchnij, still ranks among the worldwide most prolific discovery sites for minor planets.
CrAO has also been publishing the Bulletin of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory since 1947, in English since 1977. The observatory facilities (IAU code 095) are located on territory of settlement of Nauchnyi since the mid-1950s; before that, they were further south, near Simeiz. The latter facilities still see some use, and are referred to as the Crimean Astrophysical ObservatoryâÂÂSimeiz (IAU code 094).
As of 2016, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) gives a total of 1286 numbered minor planets that were discovered at the CrimeaâÂÂNauchnij observatory site during 1966âÂÂ2007. Most of these discovery are credited to the Russian/Soviet astronomers Tamara Smirnova, Lyudmila Chernykh, Nikolai Chernykh, Lyudmila Zhuravleva, Bella A. Burnasheva, Nikolaj EfimoviàKuroÃÂkin, Lyudmila Karachkina, Natalùja Vitalùevna Metlova and Galina RiÃÂardovna Kastelù. As a peculiarity, British astronomer and long-time MPC director Brian G. Marsden is also credited with the co-discovery of 37556 Svyaztie at Nauchnij in 1982, as a symbolic gesture of the astronomical collaborations and friendships between the East and the West during the Cold War.
The MPC also credits the discovery of the following minor planets directly to the observatory (rather than to one of the above listed astronomers):