Fabra Observatory

Perched at 415 metres above sea level on Tibidabo hill overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Fabra Observatory has kept watch over the Spanish sky since the start of the twentieth century.

About Fabra Observatory

Fabra Observatory belongs to the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona and is recognised as the fourth oldest observatory in the world still in active operation. Its ornate Art Nouveau dome was designed by the modernist architect Josep Domènech i Estapá and the building takes its name from its benefactor, the industrialist and politician Camil Fabra i Fontanills, Marquis of Alella.

History

The observatory was inaugurated on 7 April 1904 in the presence of King Alfonso XIII, making it one of Catalonia's oldest scientific institutions. In 2014 the European Physical Society named it an EPS Historic Site in recognition of its long contribution to physics and astronomy.

Telescopes & research

Work at Fabra Observatory has long spanned astronomy, meteorology and seismology, with a particular focus on asteroids and comets. Its best-known discovery came from staff astronomer Josep Comas Solà, who identified the comet now catalogued as 32P/Comas Solà from this hillside site.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on the slopes of Tibidabo at 415 metres, overlooking Barcelona in the Europe region of Spain - a hilltop position that has helped it keep observing despite more than a century of the city's growth below.

Visiting Fabra Observatory

Fabra Observatory opens its doors to the public through guided tours. Opening times and tour availability change, so check the official website or search for current details before you travel.

See your named star from here

Every star named through Star Register comes with precise coordinates, and observatory staff can point a telescope at those coordinates on request. Look up your star first in the star catalogue, then ask whether Fabra Observatory can help you find it in the sky.