Bareket observatory

East of the city of Maccabim near Modiin in central Israel, Bareket Observatory has spent years introducing visitors to the night sky. It is a family-run educational facility, officially recognised with the IAU observatory code B35.

About Bareket Observatory

Bareket Observatory is owned and operated by the Bareket family as an astronomy education and outreach centre. Alongside its fixed site, it runs a mobile inflatable planetarium and a remotely operated "robotic observatory" that lets users control a telescope over the internet.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's programme centres on telescope observation sessions, astrophotography, and its Astro-Net knowledge base for astronomy and Earth science, which is approved by Israel's Ministry of Education. Its Astro-Kids programme introduces younger visitors to the subject.

Location & getting there

Bareket Observatory sits east of Maccabim, near Modiin in central Israel, in a part of the country with easy access from the main population centres for an evening under the stars.

Visiting Bareket Observatory

The observatory offers telescope viewing sessions, lectures, workshops, and planetarium shows for individuals, families, and groups, along with live webcasts of astronomical events. Check the official website before your visit for current session times and bookings.

See your named star from here

Bareket's telescopes and remote-controlled robotic observatory can be aimed at specific coordinates, meaning a named star's position can be sought out from here. Have a look at the naming packages or browse the star catalogue to choose one.