HOB Observatory

HOB Observatory, whose initials stand for 'Hole of the Badger' (Buca dei Tassi), is a private amateur research station in Capraia Fiorentina, in Italy's Tuscany region.

About HOB Observatory

The observatory is run by dedicated amateur astronomers from a terrace-mounted setup, and it focuses on photometric and astrometric studies of asteroids and variable stars, work carried out in collaboration with the wider astronomical community.

Telescopes & research

HOB's observing programme pays particular attention to near-Earth asteroids, including monitoring their close approaches to Earth, alongside broader photometric work on variable stars. A specific founding date for the observatory is not publicly documented.

Location & getting there

HOB Observatory is located in Capraia Fiorentina, in Tuscany, in central Italy. Use the map on this page for exact coordinates and directions.

Visiting HOB Observatory

As a private amateur research facility, HOB Observatory is not generally open to public visitors. Anyone interested in its asteroid and variable-star work can look for updates through the wider amateur astronomy community.

See your named star from here

HOB's amateur astronomers already track faint, fast-moving asteroids from this site, so it's a fitting place to imagine looking for a star named through Star Register. Name a star to get its coordinates, or explore the star catalogue from home.