Valinhos Observatory

Valinhos Observatory, formally the Observatorio Abrahao de Moraes, sits near the Valinhos and Vinhedo area of São Paulo state, Brazil, combining research with public visits.

About Valinhos Observatory

The observatory houses the University of São Paulo's Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, and has opened its doors to scheduled public visits since 1998, making it a recognised tourist attraction in the region. Its research focuses on astronomy and astrobiology.

Telescopes & research

A key instrument at the site is a CCD meridian circle developed through a collaboration between the Bordeaux Observatory and the Instituto Astronomico e Geofisico of São Paulo. Over fifteen years of observations with this instrument produced the Galactic Bulge Valinhos Observatory Catalog, a notable contribution to the study of stars toward the centre of the Milky Way.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in the Valinhos and Vinhedo area of São Paulo state, Brazil, part of the South America region.

Visiting Valinhos Observatory

Valinhos Observatory has welcomed scheduled public visits since 1998. Check its social media page for current visiting arrangements before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

With a long history of public stargazing and a catalogue of stars to its name, Valinhos Observatory's team is well placed to help track down a star named through Star Register using its exact coordinates. Use the star-naming packages to get a certificate and locator details, or browse the catalogue to see stars already named by others.