astronomical observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
This astronomical observatory in Monte Porzio Catone, in the Province of Rome, Italy, is a site of the Rome Astronomical Observatory (INAF), sitting at an elevation of 401 metres.
About the Observatory
The site was assigned to the Rome Observatory in 1948, and its main research activities have been based at Monte Porzio since 1988. It is one of sixteen astronomical observatories and institutes that make up INAF, Italy's national institute for astrophysics, and employs around 40 researchers and technologists alongside 39 technicians.
Telescopes & research
Research at Monte Porzio spans cosmology, extragalactic astrophysics, solar physics, stellar formation, and relativistic astrophysics. Facilities on site include a main research building, a guesthouse, the AstroLAB and LightLAB educational spaces, and the Monteporzio Telescope (MPT), which is used for public outreach.
Location & getting there
The observatory is located at Via Frascati 33, in Monte Porzio Catone, a town in the Province of Rome, at 401 metres above sea level in the hills southeast of the Italian capital.
Visiting the Observatory
With dedicated outreach facilities like AstroLAB, LightLAB, and the Monteporzio Telescope, the site is set up to welcome visitors and student groups; check the observatory's website for current tour and event schedules.
See your named star from here
A research site built around cosmology and stellar formation is also well equipped for something more personal: locating a named star by its coordinates. Browse the star catalogue to see how it's done.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
