Baldone Observatory

Baldone Observatory stands in a forest clearing at Riekstukalns near Baldone, Latvia, free from light pollution and noise, and holds the distinction of being the only professional optical astronomy observatory in the country.

About Baldone Observatory

Formally the Astrophysical Observatory of the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Latvia, the site sits at 80 metres elevation and is directed by Ilgmārs Eglītis. Its research covers carbon star spectrophotometry, the study of solar system small bodies such as comets and asteroids that could threaten Earth, non-stationary stellar processes, and digital processing of photographic sky-survey images captured by its Schmidt telescope.

History

An astronomy section of the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR was created in 1946, and the observatory's Schmidt telescope was delivered from Carl Zeiss Jena in 1964. In 1997 the observatory was incorporated into the University of Latvia with the establishment of an independent Institute of Astronomy.

Telescopes & research

The Baldone Schmidt Telescope is the largest Schmidt-system telescope in the Baltic states and the 12th largest in the world. Its large field of view supports both direct and spectral observations, allowing astronomers to survey stars and solar system small bodies across wide areas of sky.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in a forest enclosure near Baldone, southeast of Riga, Latvia. Use the map and directions on this page to plan your route.

Visiting Baldone Observatory

Virtual tours of the observatory are available online. Check with the University of Latvia's Institute of Astronomy for current information on in-person visits before travelling.

See your named star from here

As the only professional optical observatory in Latvia, Baldone Observatory sits under some of the country's darkest skies. Name a star and check the catalogue for its exact coordinates to look for it from here.