Belogradchik Observatory

Belogradchik Observatory sits at the foot of the Balkan Mountains in northwestern Bulgaria, just 100 metres from the Belogradchik Fortress, and has introduced generations of visitors to the night sky since the 1960s.

About Belogradchik Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by the Institute of Astronomy of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the same institute that runs the larger Rozhen Observatory. Two domes, 6 and 4 metres wide, house three telescopes: a 15cm Zeiss Maksutov-Cassegrain, a 14-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain, and a 60cm Zeiss-Jena Cassegrain that ranks as the second-largest telescope in the Balkans after Rozhen's.

History

It was built in 1961 by a group of local astronomy enthusiasts led by physics teacher Hristo Kostov, making it Bulgaria's first school observatory. The 60cm telescope was added in 1969.

Location & getting there

Belogradchik lies in northwestern Bulgaria at the foot of the Western Balkan Mountains, right next to the striking rock formations of Belogradchik Fortress, which makes the observatory an easy add-on to a fortress visit.

Visiting Belogradchik Observatory

Daytime visitors can tour the domes and hear a short talk from a resident astronomer. Night-time observing sessions with the telescopes need to be booked in advance and depend on clear skies, so it is worth contacting the observatory ahead of a visit.

See your named star from here

With three working telescopes on site, an astronomer at Belogradchik can point at the right ascension and declination of any star, including one named in your honour. Browse the star catalogue or see our naming packages to get the coordinates ready for your next visit.