Airali Observatory

The Airali Observatory, operated by Associazione Astrofili Urania, is located at the foothills of the Piedmont Alps in Luserna San Giovanni (Turin province), Italy. This facility serves as the headquarters and observatory for a dedicated amateur astronomy association.

About Airali Observatory

The Associazione Astrofili Urania (Urania Amateur Astronomers Association) is a non-profit cultural and educational organisation that has been advancing astronomy knowledge and outreach since its founding. The Val Pellice Observatory provides both observing facilities and educational programming for the public and local schools.

Telescopes & Research

The observatory features professional-grade instrumentation including an 8-metre antenna - the largest amateur-level telescope at the facility - entirely constructed by association members. The site also houses a planetarium, which was the first in Piedmont to be used for educational visualisation of the celestial sphere.

Location & Getting There

Situated in the Val Pellice region at the foothills of the Piedmont Alps in northwestern Italy, the observatory offers a mountain setting with access to clear night skies. The location is accessible from Turin and the surrounding Piedmont region.

Visiting Airali Observatory

The Associazione Astrofili Urania welcomes visitors through guided visits and educational programmes tailored for schools and groups. Activities include planetarium shows, solar observation, botanical trail walks, and evening stargazing events. Contact the association directly to arrange visits or ask about their public event calendar and seasonal observing programmes.

See Your Named Star From Here

Staff at the Airali Observatory can point their telescopes at any celestial coordinates. Name your star through our star packages, then explore the night sky with our star catalogue to identify your named star visible from this Italian location.