Nachi-Katsuura Observatory

Nachi-Katsuura Observatory is a coastal astronomical facility in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, set within Yoshino-Kumano National Park facing the Pacific Ocean.

About Nachi-Katsuura Observatory

The observatory sits on Japan's Pacific coast in the town of Nachikatsuura, in the Higashimuro district of Wakayama Prefecture. It lies within the boundaries of Yoshino-Kumano National Park, one of Japan's oldest protected landscapes, at an elevation of around 10 metres above sea level. The site carries the International Astronomical Union observatory code 905, used to identify its astrometric observations.

History

Nachi-Katsuura Observatory was established in 1992.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located on the Pacific-facing coastline of Wakayama Prefecture, in the Kansai region of Japan, close to the town of Nachikatsuura and within Yoshino-Kumano National Park.

Visiting Nachi-Katsuura Observatory

Specific public opening hours are not confirmed here, so anyone planning a visit should check current details with local tourism resources or the relevant municipal office before travelling.

See your named star from here

Set on a national park coastline, Nachi-Katsuura Observatory is exactly the kind of dark, open site where a telescope can be pointed at the precise coordinates of a star you've named. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the star catalogue.