Los Molinos Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Los Molinos Observatory, formally the Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos (OALM), sits near the city of Las Piedras on the outskirts of Montevideo, Uruguay, at an elevation of 28 metres.
About Los Molinos Observatory
The observatory is owned by Uruguay's Ministerio de Educación y Cultura and operated in collaboration with the Astronomy Department of the University of the Republic. It carries the Minor Planet Center observatory code 844, marking its contributions to internationally recognised small-body astronomy.
Telescopes & research
Los Molinos is actively involved in follow-up observations of small Solar System bodies, including asteroids and comets. Its scientific reputation was recognised in an unusual way: the main-belt asteroid 10476 Los Molinos, discovered in 1981 by American astronomer Schelte Bus at Siding Spring Observatory, was officially named after this Uruguayan facility, with the naming citation published by the Minor Planet Center on 13 April 2017.
Location & getting there
The observatory is located near Las Piedras, just outside Montevideo, in the South America region of Uruguay, at 28 metres above sea level.
See your named star from here
Los Molinos's asteroid tracking work is a reminder of how meaningful it is to have a celestial object bear your name. If you'd like the same experience with a star, name a star or browse the star catalogue for exact coordinates.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
