Cima Ekar Observing Station
Image: Wikimedia Commons
High on the crest of Cima Ekar, a mountain ridge some four kilometres southeast of Asiago in northern Italy, the Cima Ekar Observing Station sits at 1,366 metres above sea level — home to the largest optical telescope in the country.
About Cima Ekar Observing Station
Cima Ekar operates as an annex of the nearby Asiago Astrophysical Observatory and is run by the University of Padua. Its elevated, mountain-ridge position gives it darker, steadier skies than the valley floor below.
Telescopes & research
The station's flagship instrument is the 182 cm Copernico telescope, a Cassegrain design on an equatorial mount with an F/9 focal ratio, in operation since 1973 and still the largest optical telescope in Italy. It works alongside a 67/92 cm Schmidt telescope built in 1966, and carries the official observatory code 098. Instrumentation includes AFOSC, a low-resolution spectrograph and imager, and an Echelle spectrograph for higher-resolution work, supporting ongoing research programmes at the site.
Location & getting there
The station sits in the Veneto region of Italy, on the ridge above Asiago, roughly 350 metres higher than the town itself — a setting that trades easy access for genuinely dark, high-altitude skies.
Visiting Cima Ekar Observing Station
As a working research facility tied to the University of Padua, public access is more limited than at a dedicated visitor centre; check the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory's website for any open days or guided visit options before travelling.
See your named star from here
A star named through Star Register comes with exact right ascension and declination, the same kind of coordinates a research telescope like the Copernico uses to find its targets. Name a star before visiting Asiago, or browse the catalogue to see stars named around Italy.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
