Črni Vrh Observatory

Črni Vrh Observatory sits at 730 metres elevation on a southern slope in western Slovenia, near the town of Idrija, where it has been discovering comets since the 1970s.

About Črni Vrh Observatory

Regular astronomical observations began at Črni Vrh in 1975, when the observatory captured its first images of Comet West. The current facility was built in 1985, largely through volunteer labour, and today carries the IAU observatory code 106.

Telescopes & research

The observatory runs the PIKA project (projekt iskanja kometov in asteroidov), Slovenia's dedicated comet and asteroid search programme. Its work has led to real discoveries: comet C/2008 Q1 (Matičič), the first comet ever discovered at the observatory and in Slovenia, and the periodic comet P/2010 H2 (Vales).

Location & getting there

Črni Vrh Observatory sits at 730 metres elevation on the southern slope of Črni Vrh, close to the town of Idrija in western Slovenia. Use the map and directions above to plan your route.

Visiting Črni Vrh Observatory

For current opening hours, public observation evenings, and how to arrange a visit, check the observatory's official website before you travel.

See your named star from here

An observatory that has tracked down its own comets is well practised at aiming a telescope at a precise, fixed point in the sky, exactly what's needed to view a star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the star catalogue to find its coordinates.