Szeged Observatory

In the Botanical Garden of Szeged, southern Hungary, the Szeged Observatory has spent more than three decades introducing local visitors to the night sky through its own telescopes.

About Szeged Observatory

The observatory is run by the Szegedi Csillagvizsgalo Alapitvany (Szeged Observatory Foundation), a body set up to combine scientific research, education and public outreach in one place. Its main instrument is a 0.4-metre Newtonian telescope, computerised and fitted with a professional CCD camera and colour filters, backed up by a 25cm Dobsonian-mounted telescope for simpler observing sessions.

History

Construction began in 1990 at the initiative of the University of Szeged, and the observatory officially opened its doors on 6 July 1992 at Kertesz utca 3, within the city's Botanical Garden.

Location & getting there

Szeged Observatory sits inside the Szeged Botanical Garden, in the heart of one of Hungary's largest cities, close to the Serbian and Romanian borders in the country's south.

Visiting Szeged Observatory

The observatory opens to the public on Friday evenings from March to November, from 19:00 to 22:00 (closed on public holidays), with visits outside that window available by appointment. There is an admission fee. Check the observatory's own website for the current schedule before planning your visit.

See your named star from here

On a clear Friday night at Szeged, the observatory's telescopes are already turned toward the sky — the same sky your named star sits in. Name a star with Star Register, find its coordinates in our star catalogue, and ask the foundation's team whether it's visible during your visit.