Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil

High above the town of Saint-Imier in the Swiss canton of Bern, the Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil combines a working observatory dome with public tours and planetarium shows for visitors to the Jura mountains.

About Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil

The observatory is built around a dome measuring 4.5 metres across, from where staff run public telescope sessions viewing both the Sun by day and the stars by night. It is operated by a foundation ("Stiftung") established in 2001 to run the site for education and tourism.

Telescopes & research

Alongside its dome telescope, the site runs a planetarium programme and organises guided tours combining solar observing, night-sky viewing, and presentations for visiting groups and individual travellers.

Location & getting there

Mont-Soleil rises above Saint-Imier in the Bernese Jura, part of the Europe region as classified here, a mountain setting whose abundant sunshine also lends itself to clear nights for observing.

Visiting Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil

The observatory welcomes the public through guided tours that include telescope observation and planetarium sessions; current schedules and booking details are listed on its official website.

See your named star from here

With a dome built for public stargazing, Mont-Soleil is a fitting place to track down the star you've named. Every naming package includes exact coordinates so the observatory's telescope, or any other, can be pointed straight at it. Browse the star catalogue to choose yours.