Metsahovi Optical Telescope observatory

Metsähovi Observatory, in Kirkkonummi, Finland, has been listed under the name "Optical Telescope observatory" -- but despite that label, the working facility on this site is a radio astronomy station.

About the observatory

The observatory operates a 13.7-metre diameter radio telescope as its main instrument, supported by the Metsähovi Compact Array -- four 5.5-metre dishes configured as an interferometer -- plus several smaller radio telescopes. It has been running since 1974 and is staffed by around 20 researchers, engineers and students drawn from Aalto University and the Finnish Centre for Astronomy with the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

Telescopes & research

Metsähovi's research spans radio astronomy at millimetre and microwave frequencies, including studies of variable quasars, active galaxies and the Sun, alongside very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) work carried out with international partner stations.

Location & getting there

The site lies in Kirkkonummi, in Finland's Uusimaa region, a short distance from Helsinki. It is operated by the University of Helsinki in partnership with Aalto University.

See your named star from here

While Metsähovi's own instruments point at radio wavelengths, the coordinates behind any named star from Star Register work the same way everywhere on the sky -- point a suitable telescope there and you will find it. Explore the star catalogue to see the stars already named.