Astronomical Observatory Of Montemaggiore

The Astronomical Observatory of Montemaggiore, promoted by the Municipality of Predappio, the Research Group “Fritz Zwicky” of the agritourism farm “Gli Ulivi” and the Astrophiles Group “Apem Caveja”, offers educational and popular activities to learn about the sky and the stars, also through evenings and mornings of observations.

The Astronomical Observatory of Montemaggiore, inaugurated in 2001, was conceived as a cultural tool of public use for the entire community, and especially for enthusiasts. At the same time, it is a center of high quality astronomical and scientific research, carried out with high quality resources and under the guidance of renowned researchers.

The choice of location was certainly not accidental; in fact, Monte Maggiore is a good place to observe the sky: it is sufficiently high (about 400 meters above sea level) above the atmospheric layers most polluted by haze and fog, and quite far from artificial light sources.

In addition, Montemaggiore site offers a good compromise between the percentage of clear nights, good atmospheric stability conditions, and a wide observation horizon.

The observatory is equipped with a room containing the instruments for astronomical observation, capable of accommodating at least a dozen people, both standing and sitting, a movable upper cover (sliding roof) to allow all occupants to observe the entire celestial vault, an outdoor forecourt adjoining the facility for public outdoor observations for a larger number of people, especially during the summer season, astronomical instrumentation (mobile telescope and telescope in fixed position, supported by a central column, equipped with accessories for observation eyepieces, camera, camera, personal computer).