Vesuvius Observatory

On the slopes of Mount Vesuvius near Naples, Italy, the Vesuvius Observatory has watched over one of the world's most famous volcanoes since 1841.

About Vesuvius Observatory

Known in Italian as the Osservatorio Vesuviano, this is the surveillance centre for three volcanic areas of Campania: Mount Vesuvius, the Phlegrean Fields, and the island of Ischia. It is now a section of Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), with its current operative centre based in Naples.

History

The observatory was founded in 1841 by Ferdinand II of Bourbon, King of the Two Sicilies, making it the oldest volcanology institute in the world. It has monitored seismic and volcanic activity on Vesuvius continuously ever since.

Location & getting there

The observatory's heritage site sits on the flank of Mount Vesuvius in Italy's Campania region, within easy reach of Naples and the towns of the Bay of Naples.

Visiting Vesuvius Observatory

For current opening hours, tours, or access to the historic building, check the official INGV Vesuvius Observatory website before travelling.

See your named star from here

Vesuvius Observatory's instruments are dedicated to watching the earth rather than the sky, but the region's clear Mediterranean nights are still a fine place to look up. Wherever you view from, a star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates you can use with any telescope. Name a star, or explore the catalogue of named stars.