Unit 6 astronomical capital of the world.
Two great observatories, Greenwich and Pulkovo, occupy a leading place among the observatories of the world. Some scientists call Pulkovo the astronomical capital of the world.
Pulkovo is situated in a hilly area some kilometres from Leningrad. You can’t get to Pulkovo by train – when the railway was being built the astronomers specially asked that it should be kept several kilometres away so that there should be no vibration to affect the sensitive instruments.
The work started in 1839, when the observatory was opened, is being continued now. This is the eternal work of astronomers – to define the precise co-ordinates of the stars, to find out the exact “addresses” of heavenly bodies.
Today the scientists also conduct a time service, study activity of the Sun, follow the flights of the Earth sputniks and calculate their orbits. The scientists of the observatory have made a valuable contribution to the study of the cosmos by observing artificial Earth satellites, man-made moons. The study of their orbits is very important for the flights of manned space-ships.
The Pulkovo observatory has a radio-astronomy department equipped with modern apparatus. The big radio-telescope installed there is stronger than any other telescope in the world. With the help of this powerful device the scientists of the Pulkovo observatory carry out a number of observatories of Venus, Jupiter and other planets.
The astronomers have obtained extremely surprising results due to radio-astronomical observation. By means of the radio-telescope some remarkable studies of the surface of the Sun and of solar activity have been made and a method of investigating the movement of planets has been worked out.
Astronomical observation and cosmic experiments are spheres of scientific research in which broad co-operation of scientists of various countries would be most effective. Scientists, workers and technicians have produced and launched space rockets in the direction of the Moon, Venus and Mars and are fulfilling the noble dreams of mankind.
Notes on the Text
have made a contribution – внесли вклад
affect – впливати
artificial – штучний
device – прилад
sensitive – чутливий
remarkable – видатний
exact – точний
extremely – надзвичайно
find out (found) – пізнати
flight – політ
follow – стежити
fulfill- виконувати
launch- запускати
observe – спостерігати.
Завдання 1. Дайте відповіді на запитання.
What two observatories occupy a leading place among the observatories of the world?
When was the observatory opened?
What researches do the scientists conduct today?
Is the big radio-telescope stronger than any other telescope in the world?
What studies have been made by means of the radio-telescope?
Завдання 2. Заповніть пропуски по тексту.
Pulkovo is situated ____________ some kilometers from Leningrad.
The study of their orbits ___________ of manned spaceships.
The scientists of the Pulkovo observatory carry out a number of observations of ___________.
By means of __________ a method of investigating the movement of planets has been worked out.
Astronomical observation and ____________ are spheres of scientific research.
Завдання 3. Доберіть відповідні англійські слова та словосполучення до підкреслених українських.
1. співробітництво a) mankind; b) co-operation; c) co-ordinate; d) man-made.
2. сонячний a) solar; b) sensitive; c) eternal; d) some.
3. потужній a) broad; b) active; c) modern; d) powerful.
4. отримати a) to make; b) to find; c) to obtain; d) to conduct.
5. впливати a) to affect; b) to produce; c) to define; d) to get.
Завдання 4. Перекладіть на українську мову та англійську групи слів, користуючись текстом.
а) 1. спостереження b) 1. the movement of planets
2. діяльність сонця 2. equipped
3. виконувати 3. to follow the flights
4. наукове дослідження 4. mankind
5. надзвичайно 5. to launch space rockets.
Завдання 5. Дайте вірні визначення наступним словам.
1
.
planet a. An instrument for seeing distant object more clearly.
2. railway b. A building from which the stars and planets are observed through telescopes.
3. cosmos c. A system of transport using tracks made of steel rails on which trains run.
4. telescope d. A heavenly body which travels in orbit round a sun.
5. observatory e. The universe.
Завдання 6. Доповніть речення згідно зі змістом тексту.
Some scientists call Pulkovo ___________.
This is the eternal work of astronomers ___________.
The Pulkovo observatory has a __________.
The astronomers have obtained extremely surprising results __________.
Scientists, workers and technicians are fulfilling _________.