El Catalejo observatory

El Catalejo observatory operates from Santa Rosa, the capital of La Pampa province in Argentina, contributing observations to regional and international asteroid research.

About El Catalejo observatory

El Catalejo is registered with the Minor Planet Center under observatory code I48 and takes part in POCROA (Proyecto de Observación Colaborativa y Regional de Ocultaciones Asteroidales), a collaborative project tracking stellar occultations by asteroids. It is also a member of GAP, the Grupo de Astronomía Pampeano.

Telescopes & research

Observations from El Catalejo have contributed to the study of Chariklo, the small solar system body whose ring system was confirmed through stellar occultation measurements — a rare example of amateur and regional observatories contributing directly to a significant astronomical discovery.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located near Santa Rosa, in La Pampa province, Argentina, part of South America's astronomy-friendly interior.

Visiting El Catalejo observatory

Astrotourism activities in the Santa Rosa area are organized roughly twice a month by local astronomy promoters; check locally for current dates before travelling.

See your named star from here

An observatory that has helped track ring systems around distant asteroids is well equipped to help you find your own named star. Name a star or browse the star catalogue.