Antares Astronomical Observatory

Antares Astronomical Observatory is a public astronomy facility in Feira de Santana, in the Brazilian state of Bahia, run by the State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS).

About Antares Astronomical Observatory

The observatory was inaugurated on 25 September 1971 on the initiative of Augusto César Pereira Orrico, and it was formally incorporated into UEFS on 28 August 1992. It now anchors the university's outreach in astronomy education for the wider Feira de Santana region.

History

Since opening in 1971, Antares has grown from a single observation site into a broader science outreach centre. In 2009 the Antares Museum of Science and Technology was created as a dedicated sector of the observatory, adding permanent exhibitions on the history of the universe alongside hands-on science demonstrations.

Telescopes & research

The observatory operates a telescope with a 0.51-metre (20-inch) aperture, a CDK20-type instrument, used for both public observation sessions and educational programmes run through UEFS.

Location & getting there

Antares Astronomical Observatory sits on the UEFS campus in Feira de Santana, Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, with its associated museum and planetarium located at Rua da Barra, 925, in the Jardim Cruzeiro neighbourhood of the city.

Visiting Antares Astronomical Observatory

The observatory and museum have historically welcomed visitors Monday through Friday, from around 9:00 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 16:00, though it's worth confirming current hours with UEFS or the museum directly before visiting, since schedules can change.

See your named star from here

A facility that has spent decades introducing the public to astronomy is a natural place to bring a star dedication to life. If you've named a star through Star Register, its coordinates are listed in the star catalogue, ready to share with observatory staff for a look through the telescope.