Linhaceira observatory

Linhaceira Observatory is a small astronomical research site associated with the Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, in the Santarém region of Portugal.

About Linhaceira Observatory

The observatory carries the Minor Planet Center designation MPC938 and is used for asteroid photometry and characterisation. In June 2006, astronomer Rui Gonçalves used the site to record rotational lightcurve observations of the asteroid Erda, work that has been cited in peer-reviewed asteroid research.

Telescopes & research

Linhaceira's main contribution to astronomy is in tracking how asteroids rotate, by measuring the tiny changes in brightness as they spin. This kind of photometric work, though less visible to the public than a large research telescope, feeds directly into international databases used by professional astronomers worldwide.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in the Santarém region of Portugal, near the historic town of Tomar, in the country's central interior.

Visiting Linhaceira Observatory

As a research-focused facility linked to the Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, public visiting information is not widely published; anyone interested should check with the institute directly before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

A site dedicated to tracking objects by their precise position in the sky is a fitting place to think about your own named star's coordinates. Explore our naming packages or browse the star catalogue to find one.