President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal and the accompanying delegation, who came to Erzurum to make some trips and visits, were the guests of Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı.

Rector Çomaklı welcomed Prof. Dr. Mandal and his delegation in the Rectorate office, gave information about the studies carried out by the university and its newly established units, and together with TÜBİTAK President Mandal, visited the Eastern Anatolian Observatory (DAG), which is one of the vision projects of the Republic of Turkey and located on the Konaklı - Karakaya Hills at an altitude of 3170 m.

ATASAM Director Prof. Dr. Cahit Yeşilyaprak accompanied TUBITAK President Mandal and Rector Çomaklı, who visited the campus to observe the latest developments within the scope of DAG carried out within the Astrophysics Research and Application Centre (ATASAM) of Atatürk University.

During the first visit, which took place after the completion of the signature phase in the process of ATASAM's participation in the research infrastructure within the scope of Law No. 6550, Yeşilyaprak talked about the latest developments about DAG and shared information about the administrative and technical needs and the works to be carried out in 2024.

Explaining the preparations and testing processes before the winter, Prof. Dr. Yeşilyaprak stated that when the DAG Project is completed, it will obtain better quality images than the Hubble Space Telescope and will be Turkey's most sensitive eye in the world with its equipment and technology.

TUBITAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, who examined the works at DAG on site and obtained detailed information, stated that a partnership protocol was signed between TÜBİTAK and Atatürk University last year for the establishment of a Joint Research Infrastructure with Advanced class status, and said that they are pleased to support and cooperate with such a strong and promising project as TÜBİTAK.

Prof. Dr. Çomaklı stated that the observatory, which has the largest diameter and the first infra-red telescope in Turkey, will provide the opportunity to observe the depths of space from within the borders of our country, and emphasised that DAG will attract many scientists and tourists from Turkey and abroad as well as the numerous scientific contributions it will provide.

Rector Çomaklı stated that DAG, which is extremely important for the scientific world and is considered as an advanced class R&D investment in terms of Space Sciences and Technologies, will be Turkey's eye in space and emphasised that it will contribute to the breakthroughs made towards the National Space Programme.

DIRECTORATE OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATION - 16.10.2023