OACL observatory

OACL, the Osservatorio Astronomico Colle Leone, is an astronomical observatory in Mosciano Sant'Angelo, in Italy's Teramo province.

About OACL observatory

OACL is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education for its work in astronomy, astrophysics and earth science research, outreach and teaching, making it as much an educational hub as a research site.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's primary instrument is a 50 cm Cassegrain reflector, housed in a 5-metre dome with a 9,000 mm focal length. Alongside observing, OACL runs a planetarium and an Earth Sciences Museum covering mineralogy, palaeontology and meteorites, plus astrophotography courses and educational programmes.

Location & getting there

Mosciano Sant'Angelo sits in Teramo province, in Italy's Abruzzo region, within reach of the Adriatic coast.

Visiting OACL observatory

OACL regularly hosts public observation events alongside its museum and planetarium, making it one of the more visitor-friendly observatories in the region. Check the observatory's own website for current event schedules before travelling.

See your named star from here

With a 50 cm telescope and a programme of public observation nights, OACL is a genuinely good place to go looking for a named star. If you've named one through Star Register, look up its coordinates in our star catalogue and bring them along.