Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo

On a hillside outside Teramo in Italy's Abruzzo region, the Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo has watched the skies since the 1890s, founded by the astronomer who discovered a major asteroid and challenged one of the most famous claims in the history of Mars observation.

About the Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo

Also known as the Collurania-Teramo Observatory (Osservatorio Astronomico di Collurania "Vincenzo Cerulli"), the site is owned and operated by Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and carries the IAU observatory code 037.

History

The observatory was founded in 1893 by Vincenzo Cerulli, an astronomer from Teramo who later donated it to the Italian state. Cerulli discovered the asteroid 704 Interamnia and used the observatory's main telescope to study Mars, concluding that the "canali" reported by Giovanni Schiaparelli were optical illusions rather than real surface features - a view later observations vindicated.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's historic Merz-Repsold refractor, installed in 1885, is still in working order and was the instrument Cerulli used for his planetary observations. A more modern 40cm reflector is used for deeper observations of galaxies and other faint objects.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at about 390 metres elevation at Collurania, on the outskirts of Teramo in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Visiting the Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo

INAF runs a seasonal evening visit programme called "Notti a Collurania," which includes a tour of the on-site historic museum of scientific instruments, an interactive multimedia laboratory, and, weather permitting, guided observation of the night sky. Visits are capped at around 45 people and are suitable for children from age 8 upward, with younger visitors required to be accompanied by an adult. Check the observatory's website for current dates before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Cerulli spent his career pinning down exactly where things sit in the sky - the same right ascension and declination coordinates that come with every star named through our register, ready for a telescope like the observatory's own Merz-Repsold refractor to find. Name a star, or explore our star catalogue.