G.V. Schiaparelli Observatory

The G.V. Schiaparelli Observatory stands on Campo dei Fiori mountain above Varese, Italy, at 1,226 metres elevation, named for the 19th-century astronomer Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli.

About G.V. Schiaparelli Observatory

Founded in 1956, the observatory is run by the Società Astronomica G.V. Schiaparelli, an association that has kept the site active as both a research facility and a public astronomy destination for nearly seven decades.

History

The observatory was established in 1956 on Campo dei Fiori, taking advantage of the mountain's elevation and relatively dark skies above the Varese plain. It has since grown into one of the more prominent amateur-run observatories in Italy.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is an 84 cm reflector, among the largest telescopes in amateur hands anywhere in Italy or Europe. Astronomers at the site work on stellar spectroscopy of interacting binary stars, astrometry of asteroids and comets, confirmation observations of newly discovered supernovae, and spectroscopic monitoring through the ANS Collaboration network.

Location & getting there

Campo dei Fiori rises above Varese in Lombardy, in northern Italy near the Swiss border, offering the elevation and clearer air that make it a working research site as well as a visitor destination.

Visiting G.V. Schiaparelli Observatory

The observatory welcomes public visits both during the day and at night, along with school groups and cultural events, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Check the official Società Astronomica G.V. Schiaparelli website for current opening times and how to book before travelling.

See your named star from here

With an 84 cm reflector capable of tracking precise coordinates across the sky, the Schiaparelli Observatory is exactly the kind of site where a named star's position becomes something you can actually point a telescope at. Name a star and look up its coordinates in our catalogue before your visit.