Astronomical Observatory of Farra d'Isonzo

In the small town of Farra d'Isonzo, near Gorizia in Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, a dedicated group of amateur astronomers built an observatory that has gone on to discover hundreds of asteroids.

About the observatory

The Astronomical Observatory of Farra d'Isonzo is run by the CCAF (Circolo Culturale Astronomico di Farra d'Isonzo) and combines an observatory with a planetarium, giving it both a research role and a strong public outreach mission. It holds Minor Planet Center observatory code 595.

History

The group behind the observatory formed as an association in 1969 and was formally established by notarial deed in 1975. Since public observations began in 1985, the observatory and its planetarium have together drawn 77,945 visitors, including 31,715 to the planetarium alone.

Telescopes & research

Between 1993 and 2010, astronomers at Farra d'Isonzo discovered 225 asteroids, a remarkable output for a community-run observatory and one that earned the site its own Minor Planet Center code.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in Farra d'Isonzo, in the province of Gorizia, in northeastern Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, not far from the Slovenian border.

Visiting

The observatory and planetarium are open to the public, with tens of thousands of visitors over the decades; check the CCAF's own channels for current opening sessions before you go.

See your named star from here

An observatory with a genuine asteroid-hunting pedigree is a fitting place to track down a named star by its coordinates. Find your star's position in the star catalogue before your visit.