Astronomical Observatory of Padova

Housed in a converted medieval tower known as La Specola, the Astronomical Observatory of Padova is one of Italy's oldest astronomical institutions, with roots reaching back to the 18th century.

About Astronomical Observatory of Padova

The observatory takes its historic form from La Specola, a 14th-century tower that was originally part of a medieval castle in Padua, in Italy's Veneto region, before being converted for astronomical use. Today the institution operates as part of Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).

History

The observatory dates to 1777, when the tower was adapted into a working observation post, giving Padova one of the longest continuous traditions of astronomical work in Europe.

Telescopes & research

Beyond its historic Padova headquarters, the observatory also operates a modern research site at Asiago, home to the 182 cm Copernico telescope equipped with the AFOSC instrument and an Echelle spectrograph, as well as a Schmidt telescope. The institution combines this research work with public science outreach and teaching alongside the University of Padova.

Location & getting there

The historic La Specola building sits in the centre of Padua, Italy, at Vicolo Osservatorio 5, while the observatory's modern instruments are based further away at its Asiago site.

Visiting Astronomical Observatory of Padova

La Specola operates as a museum open to visitors, with guided tours available; check the observatory's website for current information and opening hours before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

A named star's coordinates, its right ascension and declination, are exactly the kind of data an observatory's telescope operators use to locate any object in the sky. If you've reserved a star via our packages, its position is listed in the catalogue for a future viewing here.

Name a star of your own

Whether or not you can visit Astronomical Observatory of Padova, you can dedicate a real, visible star through Star-Register. Name a star to receive its exact coordinates, or browse the star catalogue to look one up.