Raheny Observatory

Raheny Observatory sits in a garden in North County Dublin, Ireland, where amateur astronomers David and Carol Grennan turned a converted garden shed into a working research station under the Irish sky.

About Raheny Observatory

Raheny Observatory is a private amateur facility built from a retractable-roof shed and assembled largely from do-it-yourself parts. Despite its modest origins, it has produced real scientific discoveries: observers here have found three supernovae and two minor planets, and the observatory was the first in the world to spot a supernova on 17 September.

Telescopes & research

The observatory is equipped with a 14-inch Cassegrain telescope, the main instrument behind its supernova and asteroid discoveries. It remains an active amateur research station rather than a public viewing facility.

Location & getting there

Raheny Observatory is located in North County Dublin, in the Leinster region of Ireland, within easy reach of Dublin city.

Visiting Raheny Observatory

As a private garden observatory, Raheny is not generally open for public tours. Anyone hoping to visit or learn more should check for updates via the observatory's own channels before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Because any observatory can be pointed at a star's exact right ascension and declination, the coordinates on a Star Register certificate can, in principle, be located from a site like this one. Name a star of your own, or browse the star catalogue to see what's already been named.