Carpe-Noctem observatory

Carpe-Noctem observatory is an astronomical observatory in the Community of Madrid, Spain, built for automated, remote astrophotography and scientific monitoring rather than public visits.

About Carpe-Noctem observatory

Sited in the Guadarrama mountain range, Carpe-Noctem operates under the Minor Planet Center designation I72 and is also registered with the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) under the code MJOD. The facility houses a 3-metre Scopedome, an automated fiberglass observatory dome mounted on a tower, allowing the telescope inside to run unattended.

Telescopes & research

Carpe-Noctem is designed for fully automated remote operations. Its programme covers minor planet astrometry, exoplanet transit observations, variable star monitoring reported to the AAVSO, meteor surveillance as part of the Global Meteor Network, and the tracking of supernovae and other transient events.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the Guadarrama range in the Community of Madrid, Spain, an area whose elevation and distance from the capital give it comparatively dark, stable skies suited to precision astrometry.

Visiting Carpe-Noctem observatory

As a remote, automated research station, Carpe-Noctem is not set up as a public visitor site in the way a planetarium is. If you're interested in its work, check its official pages before travelling, since access is likely limited to researchers and collaborators.

See your named star from here

Carpe-Noctem's telescope is proof that a dome and mount can be pointed at precise sky coordinates on demand — exactly the principle behind naming a star. Name a star and receive its coordinates, or explore stars already named in the star catalogue.