iota Scorpii Observatory

iota Scorpii Observatory is a privately run research observatory in La Spezia, on the Ligurian coast of northern Italy, operated by astronomer Giulio Scarfì.

About iota Scorpii Observatory

Unlike a public visitor centre, iota Scorpii Observatory is a working research site built around serious optics and a network of scientific collaborations. It operates as part of Italy's active amateur astronomy scene, contributing real observational data rather than simply hosting sky-watching evenings.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's instruments include a GSO 16-inch telescope and a Ritchey-Chrétien reflector with a 406mm aperture and an F/D of 6.15. It is a member of both Gruppo Astronomia Digitale (GAD) and the Unione Astrofili Italiani (UAI), Italy's national federation of amateur astronomers, and it takes part in follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts, the brief and extraordinarily energetic explosions that mark some of the most violent events in the universe. Its collaborators have included the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the Tokyo University Institute of Astronomy, Aarhus University in Denmark, and Italy's University of Salerno.

Location & getting there

iota Scorpii Observatory is set in La Spezia, a port city in Liguria on Italy's northwestern coast, within easy reach of the Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets. Use the map and directions on this page to find your way there.

Visiting iota Scorpii Observatory

As a privately operated research facility, iota Scorpii Observatory is not set up as a general tourist attraction, and there is no confirmed public visiting schedule. Anyone interested in seeing the observatory or its work should get in touch with GAD or UAI, or reach out to the observatory directly, before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

A serious observing site like this one can be pointed at any set of sky coordinates, including the right ascension and declination of a star named through Star Register. Name a star of your own or browse the star catalogue to see what's already been named.