Puna'auia observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Run by the Société d'Astronomie de Tahiti, Punaauia observatory sits at the Cité de l'Air near Papeete's airport in French Polynesia, giving islanders and visitors regular public access to a serious set of telescopes.
About Punaauia observatory
The observatory's main instrument is a 660-millimetre telescope, backed up by a 26-inch Dobsonian, a 16-inch Meade Newtonian and several other telescopes, giving it enough range for both close-up planetary views and faint deep-sky targets.
Telescopes & research
Visitors can get detailed views of Jupiter's atmospheric bands and Saturn's rings, along with star clusters, nebulae and galaxies further out. Nearby, the Geodesic Observatory of Tahiti has hosted NASA's MOBLAS-8 space geodesy system since 1997, adding another layer of scientific activity to the site.
Location & getting there
Punaauia observatory is located in Punaauia, French Polynesia, close to Papeete's airport.
Visiting Punaauia observatory
The Société d'Astronomie de Tahiti holds monthly public observation evenings, giving visitors a chance to use the observatory's telescopes under Polynesian skies.
See your named star from here
A 660-millimetre telescope and monthly public nights make Punaauia observatory a strong option for anyone in French Polynesia hoping to find a star named through Star Register. Name a star or check its coordinates in the catalogue first.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.