Kangwon Science High School observatory

At Kangwon Science High School in Gangwon Province, South Korea, a dedicated observatory has trained generations of young astronomers since it opened in 1993, earning international recognition for its asteroid observation work.

About Kangwon Science High School Observatory

The observatory belongs to Kangwon Science High School and supports the school's astronomy programme with real research-grade equipment. In 2006 it became the first high school observatory in Korea to receive international certification (designation D55) as a small celestial body observation site.

History

The observatory opened in 1993 as part of Kangwon Science High School's science curriculum, and it earned its international observation-site certification in 2006, a distinction that recognised the quality of its asteroid and minor-body tracking work.

Telescopes & research

The observatory is equipped with a 16-inch LX200 reflecting telescope alongside several smaller refracting telescopes, plus a CCD camera used for imaging. Students and staff run an active asteroid observation programme and also monitor how light pollution affects the visibility of the night sky.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located on the Kangwon Science High School campus in Gangwon Province, in the mountainous northeast of South Korea, a region that offers relatively dark, clear skies for school-based astronomy.

Visiting Kangwon Science High School Observatory

As a working school facility, the observatory primarily serves its own students and affiliated science programmes rather than the general public. Anyone interested in visiting should contact the school directly to check current access arrangements.

See your named star from here

Students here track asteroids by their precise coordinates every clear night - the same principle behind a Star Register star name. Name a star and you'll get its own right ascension and declination, ready to look up in our star catalogue or point a telescope toward, just like the observatory's asteroid hunters do.