Bosscha Observatory

Bosscha Observatory sits on a hilltop plateau in Lembang, West Java, about 15 kilometres north of Bandung, Indonesia. It is the oldest modern observatory in the country and one of the oldest in Asia, and it still welcomes visitors for guided daytime and night-sky sessions.

About Bosscha Observatory

Perched at 1,310 metres above sea level on six hectares of hilly land, Bosscha Observatory operates under the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and carries the official IAU observatory code 299. The elevated, forested site was chosen to keep the observatory cooler, darker and clearer than the city below.

Location & getting there

The observatory occupies a plateau in Lembang, West Bandung Regency, roughly 15 kilometres north of central Bandung on the island of Java. Its hillside position at 1,310 metres helps shield observations from the lights and haze of the city, making it one of the more reliable stargazing sites in West Java.

Visiting Bosscha Observatory

Bosscha opens to the public on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, split into four guided sessions, with additional evening sessions from around 5pm to 8pm on clear nights. Weekday slots are generally reserved for school and institutional groups. A guided tour typically includes a presentation in the historic Koppel Building and a short show in the multimedia room, and low-cost tickets are sold separately for day and night visits. Because spaces are limited, book online through the observatory's website in advance and check the weather before travelling for a night session.

See your named star from here

Every star named through Star Register comes with real, fixed coordinates, so any observatory with a telescope can be pointed toward it on a clear night. Bring your certificate's right ascension and declination on a visit to Bosscha, or look them up first in the star catalogue, so staff can help you find your star among the thousands overhead.