The first and only observatory appeared in the city of Murom more than half a century ago. It works to this day, turning into a house-museum of its founder, self-taught astronomer Sergei Antonovich Spassky. His tools, things, drawings and notes remain in place.
The hands of the talented master also made a photo laboratory, a workshop, a library. His love for the sky was preserved in every thing. Only one thing has changed: excursions are now conducted by students of Sergei Antonovich.
A hobby that has become a matter of life
The biography of the future astronomer began in 1922. The child was the only son in the family: besides him, his parents raised his older and younger sisters, Nina and Alexandra.
Father was a jack of all trades. He taught bookbinding and was fond of photography. In 1931 the boy went to school. The boy was an excellent ski runner and took part in competitions. In the fourth grade, he became interested in astronomy.
The student built the first observatory in the courtyard of the house. The tower was made of wood, and the telescope was assembled from spectacle lenses. In 1941 the graduate continued his education at the Mining Institute of Sverdlovsk. In 1942 the student went to the front.
Even during the war, Spassky did not stop educating himself. He was most interested in astronomy and optics. Sergei Antonovich returned to his hometown in 1947. He entered the Physics and Mathematics Institute of the Murom Teachers' Institute. Leaving his studies, Spassky worked at the local communications school as a bookbinder, photographer, and drew maps. In 1955, he began work in zinc printing, created on the basis of a city printing house. Spassky made the equipment himself. His clichés were of the highest quality.
Dream Realization
From the end of 1962, Sergei Antonovich worked in a radio factory as a manufacturer of printed circuit boards, compiled programs for CNC machines. He did not forget his passion for astronomy. In 1957, Spassky came up with a proposal to create an observatory in the city, providing him with a project with drawings.
The dream had to be realized alone. In the construction, which began in May 1962, the wife, Alexandra Grigorievna, actively helped her husband. The main work was completed in 1968. The building was named ASSIS, "Alexandra and Sergei Spasskikh Izba Observatory".
The iron dome crowning the structure was installed on special rails that rotate for a complete view. It turned out to be difficult to find the telescope. The enthusiast showed his drawings to the director of the Pulkovo Observatory. At the scientific council, it was decided to allocate a telescope. Every night Sergei Antonovich climbed under the dome to watch the stars until dawn.
Summarizing
Over time, there were five telescopes. The master made three with his own hands. The guys from the local astronomical club became frequent visitors to ASSIZ. They were always greeted with hospitality.
Sergey Antonovich took part in five expeditions. The first took place in 1958 in the Middle Urals. The travelers made their way in an inflatable boat. The next year, a new trip to the Urals took place. In 1960-1961 he again went to the Urals. The purpose of the last expedition was the place where the Tunguska meteorite fell. The last one was a trip to Karelia in 1969. It resulted in unique photographs.
Sergei Antonovich lectured, collaborated with schools, received guests from the optical laboratory of Pulkovo and the Leningrad Observatory, journalists, correspondents. Thanks to Spassky, on May 9, 1970, 300 people were able to see the passage of Mercury on the solar disk in his observatory.
The talented master and self-taught astronomer left this life in 1997, in June. A memorial plaque has been unveiled in the house where Spassky lived for a long time. Several documentaries have been filmed about a person who is keen on stars.
