Observatorium Sonnblick

Perched at 3,106 metres atop Hoher Sonnblick on the Salzburg–Carinthia border, Observatorium Sonnblick is the highest year-round observatory in the world. Since 1886 it has served as a high-altitude station for meteorological and climate research, run today by Austria's ZAMG.

About Observatorium Sonnblick

Sonnblick Observatory sits on the summit of Hoher Sonnblick in the Austrian Alps, on the border between Salzburg and Carinthia. At 3,106 metres, it holds the distinction of being the highest observatory in the world that is staffed and operated year-round, in all weather.

History

The observatory was founded on 2 September 1886, and has been continuously staffed ever since, making it home to one of the longest unbroken temperature records anywhere in the world - more than 130 years of daily measurements from the same high-alpine site.

Telescopes & research

Sonnblick is owned, managed and operated by ZAMG (Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik), Austria's central institute for meteorology and geodynamics. Its research focuses on atmospheric, climate and environmental conditions at extreme altitude, rather than optical astronomy - making its long-running data series a valuable record for climate science.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at 3,106 metres above sea level on Hoher Sonnblick, straddling the Salzburg and Carinthia regions of Austria, high above the tree line in the Alps.

Visiting Observatorium Sonnblick

Given its extreme altitude and alpine setting, a visit requires proper planning - check the observatory's own website for current access details, cable-car or hut information, and weather conditions before heading up.

See your named star from here

At 3,106 metres, the thin air and dark alpine skies above Sonnblick are about as good as conditions get for looking toward the coordinates of a named star. Name a star or browse the catalogue to find yours.