Stardust Observatory

Stardust Observatory, also known as Zeta Aquarii Observatory, is a private astrometry site in Brașov County, Romania, built around precision equipment rather than a public dome.

About Stardust Observatory

Rather than a traditional building with a dome, Stardust Observatory is a fixed installation of high-precision astronomical equipment at a private residence, producing astrometric measurements used in tracking asteroids and other small solar system bodies. Since June 2022 it has held the Minor Planet Center observatory code M30, a mark of recognised, usable scientific data.

Location & getting there

The site sits in Brașov County, in Romania's Europe region, in the country's mountainous central area. Its exact coordinates place it away from major cities, in line with the dark skies precision astrometry work depends on.

Visiting Stardust Observatory

As a private facility built for measurement rather than public tours, Stardust Observatory doesn't have general visiting hours. Anyone interested in its work should look for its published astrometric data rather than plan a physical visit.

See your named star from here

Precision astrometry sites like this one are built to pin down exact positions in the sky, which is exactly what's needed to find a named star's coordinates. Look up your star in the star catalogue to get its right ascension and declination.