Haagaar Observatory

Haagaar Observatory stands at Eina in Innlandet county, Norway, a volunteer-built astronomy facility that opens the night sky to visitors and members alike.

About Haagaar Observatory

The observatory is operated by GOTAF, the Gjøvik and Toten Astronomical Association, a Norwegian non-profit group founded in the 1970s to promote amateur astronomy in the region. Membership is open to anyone interested in astronomy, and the association runs the site as a community resource rather than a research institution.

Telescopes & facilities

The main building is a four-metre-diameter observation tower containing several dedicated rooms. A separate astrophotography facility on the grounds, known as Smedstua, is used for imaging work. Haagaar also hosts a camera station for the Norwegian Meteor Network, contributing local sightings to a national meteor-tracking effort. GOTAF runs public education programmes at the site covering telescope use and basic astrophysics.

Location & getting there

Haagaar Observatory sits in the countryside around Eina, in Norway's Innlandet region, an area known for dark, low-light-pollution skies well suited to amateur observing.

Visiting Haagaar Observatory

GOTAF welcomes new members and runs public astronomy education sessions at the observatory. Because opening nights depend on weather and the volunteer schedule, check the observatory's own channels before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

Volunteers at Haagaar Observatory can aim a telescope using nothing more than right ascension and declination, which means a star you've had named through Star Register can be picked out from this very site. Browse the star catalogue to find the coordinates for a star named here.