Quito, comet astrograph station
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
The Quito comet astrograph station is a specialised observing facility near the equator in Ecuador, historically used for tracking comets.
About the Quito comet astrograph station
Associated with the wider Quito Observatory complex, the station holds Minor Planet Center observatory code 782 and historically used a Merz comet finder for astrographic work.
Location & getting there
The station is located in Ecuador, close to the equator, near the city of Quito.
Visiting the Quito comet astrograph station
As a specialised research facility, it isn't set up as a public attraction; visitors interested in Quito's astronomical heritage should instead look to the main Quito Astronomical Observatory in the city's historic centre.
See your named star from here
Comet-hunting instruments like this one work from the same principle as star-finding: precise coordinates. Once you name a star, its position is fixed exactly enough for any observatory to locate – see it for yourself in the star catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
