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Observatories > Catania Observatory

CATANIA OBSERVATORY

Credit: JEA

The "Serra la Nave observatory" was built on a favorable site avoiding the lava regularly coming from the Etan volcano.

Founded in 1879 by professor Tacchini, the Catania observatory is situated on the mount Etna (Serra la Nave, 1735 meters above the sea level), one of the largest volcanoes still active. Researches made at the observatory are in the field of astrophysics: among them observations of asteroids are made together with the survey of the Sun.

The Catania observatory is one of the twelve italian observatories gathered in the INAF (National Italian Astrophysical Institute). A strong pedagogical activity is developed towards pupils, students and general public.