Vilnius observatory (since 1939)

Vilnius Observatory, in Vilnius, Lithuania, reached a turning point in 1939, when growing city lights and rapid urban expansion made its existing site increasingly unsuitable for astronomy.

About Vilnius Observatory

Under director Władysław Dziewulski, who led the observatory from 1919 to 1939, its research focused on photographic observations of variable stars, spectroscopy, and stellar statistics.

History

By 1939, light pollution and the city's growth had prompted plans to relocate the observatory to Upper Paneri, a darker site away from the urban centre. Those relocation plans were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

Location & getting there

Vilnius Observatory is situated in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, in Eastern Europe.

Visiting Vilnius Observatory

For current opening hours or public access, check locally or with the University of Vilnius astronomical institute before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

The observatory's 1939 struggle against encroaching city lights is a story astronomers everywhere still recognise — dark skies matter for seeing the stars clearly. Name a star of your own, or browse the catalogue of named stars.