Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory

The Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw is the astronomy institute of Poland's oldest university, combining teaching for undergraduate through doctoral students with research that reaches from Warsaw to the deserts of Chile.

About Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory

The observatory provides astronomy classes for bachelor's, master's and doctorate students, with hands-on student telescope activities carried out at its observing station in Ostrowik, outside Warsaw. Its scientific staff take part in major international collaborations, including the ground-based H.E.S.S., CTA and LIGO/VIRGO projects and the satellite missions Planck and Gaia.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's two flagship research efforts are OGLE and ASAS, long-term optical sky surveys that use dedicated telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile rather than in Poland itself, a common arrangement that lets Warsaw astronomers observe skies unreachable from Europe.

Location & getting there

The main observatory building is in Warsaw, Poland, with its teaching observing station situated at Ostrowik on the city's outskirts.

Visiting Warsaw University Astronomical Observatory

As a working academic institute rather than a public visitor attraction, access is generally tied to university courses and occasional open events. Check the observatory's website for any public astronomy nights before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

An institute with telescopes on two continents understands as well as anyone that a star's coordinates are the same no matter where you stand to look. If you'd like a star of your own to track down, browse our naming packages or the star catalogue.