AstroVal observatory

AstroVal observatory perches at 1,150 metres above Le Solliat in the Vallée de Joux, high in the Jura mountains of Vaud, Switzerland.

About AstroVal observatory

The observatory's dome houses a 61cm telescope, one of the largest in French-speaking Switzerland (Suisse Romande), alongside dedicated solar telescopes fitted with sun filters for safe daytime observing.

Telescopes & research

By day, visitors can view the Sun safely through the solar telescopes; by night, the main 61cm instrument is turned on star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, and planets including Jupiter and its moons, Saturn and its rings, Mars, Venus, and the Moon.

Location & getting there

Sitting at 1,150 metres in the Jura range, AstroVal benefits from the thinner, drier mountain air and distance from lowland light pollution that make high-altitude sites attractive for astronomy.

Visiting AstroVal observatory

AstroVal runs public programmes including afternoon Sun observation, night-time stargazing, astrophotography sessions, astronomy-themed escape games, and social \"AstroFondue\" evenings. Groups are kept to a maximum of 12 people to preserve the quality of the experience, so booking ahead through the observatory is recommended.

See your named star from here

With a proper large telescope and genuinely dark mountain skies, AstroVal is a strong candidate for actually observing a star named through Star Register in person. Look up its coordinates in the star catalogue and ask staff about pointing their telescope toward it on your visit.