Bucharest Astronomical Observatory

On Filaret Hill in Carol Park, south of central Bucharest, an early 20th-century observatory has watched Romanian skies for well over a century and now forms the core of the country's national astronomical research institute.

About Bucharest Astronomical Observatory

The Bucharest Astronomical Observatory occupies Filaret Hill, with a main building, an 11.5-metre-diameter equatorial dome, and a Meridian Hall, designed in neo-classical style by Belgian architect Adolphe Engels with engineer Mihail Roco. In 1990 it was united with the Cluj Observatory and the Timișoara Observatory to form the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, which still operates from the site today.

History

The observatory was established on 1 April 1908 by decree of education minister Spiru Haret, with astronomer Nicolae Coculescu as its first director; construction on Filaret Hill began in 1910 and took two years. In 1920 its meteorology and astronomy functions were split apart. The University of Bucharest took over its coordination in 1945, the Romanian Academy assumed control in 1951, and the 1990 merger created today's Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Filaret Hill in Carol Park, in southern Bucharest, at an elevation of roughly 86 metres.

Visiting Bucharest Astronomical Observatory

As a working research institute, the observatory is primarily a scientific facility rather than a regular tourist attraction; check the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy's website for any public events or open days before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Since Nicolae Coculescu founded it in 1908, Bucharest Astronomical Observatory has used precise sky coordinates to track celestial objects - the same right ascension and declination system printed on every Star Register certificate. Bring your star's coordinates with you on a stargazing app when visiting Bucharest, and look for it in the same sky the observatory has studied for over a century. Start at /#packages or browse the catalogue.