Bulgaria will build its first LOFAR station, part of the largest low-frequency radio telescope.

The Institute of Astronomy within the National Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has announced the completion of the construction of the first LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) station in Bulgaria by the end of 2026. This station will be part of the pan-European LOFAR network, which already includes 52 stations in eight European countries. The project will enable research in areas such as solar physics, galaxy formation, and mapping cosmic magnetic fields. Bulgaria has become a co-founder of the European LOFAR ERIC Consortium. The LOFAR-BG station is funded through the national roadmap for scientific infrastructure 2020-2027. In addition, the Institute of Astronomy will organize an internship program in 2026 for students and young researchers, providing them with practical experience in radio astronomy.