TITLE: THE ORGOV RADIO-TELESCOPE

The Orgov Radio-Telescope, also known as ROT54, is an optical radio telescope in Armenia. It was built between 1975 and 1985 and was active till 1990.

The telescope is located on the Aragats mountains. The giant spherical antenna is a unique instrument with a diameter of 54 meters. The telescope dish is one of the most sensitive in the world: a famous explosion of a red giant, in the Gemini constellation, was recorded here.

In the mid-1990s, restoration was proposed. Unfortunately, the Armenian state could not afford the repair costs, and the building was abandoned.

It was officially registered as an Armenian state monument in 2002.

AUTHOR: Andrea Riberti (Italy)

Andrea Riberti is an engineer, photographer and writer. Born in Genoa, he moved to Rome and has been a photographer for about 30 years. His work focuses mainly on reportage and black and white photography.

Among his recent editorial projects are some fanzines such as "The Floating Island" and "The Last Hours" and some travel books such as "Northern Oman" and "Isole del Tirreno". He has also published a volume of poetry, "Metropolitan Verses", and won the special jury prize at the 6th edition of the national "Terra di Poeti" competition.

Among his most recent collaborations are the collective photography book "Urban" ed. Graffiti and the exhibition "Photographic Contaminations - Hopper, Egglestone, Carver", Wire Rome.