OWL-Net observatory

Set in Israel's Southern District, this OWL-Net observatory is one of five identical robotic stations spread across the globe to keep constant watch on satellites in orbit.

About OWL-Net Observatory

OWL-Net, short for the Optical Wide-field patroL-Network, is operated by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). The network's five stations - in Israel, Mongolia, Morocco, South Korea, and the United States - work together so that Korean satellites can be tracked continuously as the Earth rotates.

Telescopes & research

Each OWL-Net station, including this one, carries an identical 0.5-metre Ritchey-Chretien telescope paired with a 4K CCD camera and a field of view of roughly 1.1 to 1.54 degrees. The stations are remotely controlled from KASI's headquarters in Daejeon, South Korea, and are dedicated primarily to tracking Korean satellites in low and geostationary orbit and monitoring space debris.

Location & getting there

The station sits in Israel's Southern District, in Asia's western reaches, chosen as one of five widely spaced global sites needed for round-the-clock satellite coverage. Use the map on this page for its precise coordinates.

Visiting OWL-Net Observatory

As a remotely operated satellite-tracking station rather than a public observatory, this site is not generally open for casual visits. Anyone with a specific interest should contact KASI or local astronomy organizations for current access information.

See your named star from here

This station's telescope is built to track fast-moving satellites rather than fixed stars, but the clear desert skies of southern Israel are still a fine backdrop for imagining a star you have named through Star Register. Look up its position in the star catalogue.