Kielce observatory

The Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory in Kielce, Poland, opened in 2003 at the Institute of Physics of Jan Kochanowski University, combining a public planetarium with a working research-grade telescope.

About Kielce Observatory

The facility includes a five-metre-diameter planetarium hall fitted with a Japanese star projector, seating around 30 visitors, alongside a dedicated observatory. Its main telescope is a Schmidt-Cassegrain instrument with a 356 mm objective and 3,910 mm focal length, giving it an f/11 aperture ratio and roughly 0.33 arcsecond resolution, mounted on a computer-controlled parallactic mount for accurate tracking. The site also houses a permanent meteorite exhibition.

History

The observatory opened its doors in 2003 as part of the university's Institute of Physics, and has since become a hub for public astronomy education in the Kielce region.

Telescopes & research

Its Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, with computer-controlled tracking, supports both public observing sessions and educational programmes, including astronomy competitions, science days, and shows for visitors of all ages.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located on Świêtokrzyska Street in Kielce, in south-central Poland, on the campus of Jan Kochanowski University.

Visiting Kielce Observatory

The observatory and planetarium regularly host public shows, competitions, and science days; check the university's schedule for current session times before visiting.

See your named star from here

With a computer-controlled telescope on hand, staff at Kielce can direct it toward the precise coordinates of any named star. Name a star and find its listing in our catalogue.