Haterumajima Astronomical Observatory Tower

The Haterumajima Astronomical Observatory Tower sits on Hateruma Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, the southernmost inhabited island in the country and one of its darkest places to look up at night.

About the Haterumajima Astronomical Observatory Tower

The tower houses a small dome fitted with a 20mm refracting telescope alongside a compact planetarium, built specifically for public stargazing rather than research. Because of the island's low latitude, an unusually high 84 of the 88 official constellations can be seen from here over the course of a year.

Telescopes & research

The facility's 20mm refractor and planetarium are aimed squarely at visitors rather than professional astronomers, giving the public an accessible way to explore the night sky from one of Japan's most remote settlements.

Location & getting there

Hateruma Island lies at the far southern edge of Okinawa Prefecture. With no nearby private houses or street lamps to wash out the sky, the tower benefits from some of the least light-polluted conditions in Japan.

Visiting the Haterumajima Astronomical Observatory Tower

Entry costs 400 yen, and the tower is generally open in the evening, from around 7pm until 9 or 10pm depending on the season; it is closed on Mondays. For the clearest views, a visit within four days of a new moon is recommended, when moonlight interferes least with the stars.

See your named star from here

With most of the sky's constellations on view and almost no artificial light to compete with, Hateruma Island is about as good a place as exists to search out a star named through Star Register. Browse the naming packages or look yours up in the star catalogue before you go.