Sanderphil Urban Observatory

Just outside Civitavecchia on Italy's Lazio coast, the Sanderphil Urban Observatory is a working amateur astronomical station dedicated to asteroid research and astrophotography.

About Sanderphil Urban Observatory

Sanderphil Urban Observatory is run by astronomers Filippo Curti and Sandro Spadaro, who built the station to combine astrophotography with serious minor-planet research and public science communication. The observatory holds an official code from the Minor Planet Center (MPC L26), the body that credits and tracks asteroid observations worldwide.

Telescopes & research

The team's work centres on tracking and imaging minor planets, contributing observations that feed into the global MPC database alongside professional and amateur stations. Alongside the research programme, the observatory is used for astrophotography and outreach, introducing local visitors to practical astronomy.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the Lazio region of central Italy, on the coast near Civitavecchia, a port city roughly an hour from Rome. Its coastal setting supports both imaging work and public viewing sessions.

Visiting Sanderphil Urban Observatory

As a small, actively used research station, visiting hours are not published; check the observatory's own website or contact the operators directly before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

Because a star's coordinates work from any observing site, staff or visiting astronomers here could point a telescope toward the right ascension and declination of a star named through Star Register. Browse the full star catalogue to see how it works.