Photo: JoAnn Miller from Mexico City, Mexico, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Museum, 1812
Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte
Research institute in Naples, Italy
At a glance
- Type
- Museum
- Period
- Early modern period, 1812
- Elevation
- 150 m above sea level
- Coordinates
- 40°51′46″ N, 14°15′18″ E
- Address
- Salita Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli
About
The Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte (Italian: Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte) is the Neapolitan department of Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (National Institute for Astrophysics, INAF), the most important Italian institution promoting, developing and conducting scientific research in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and space science.
The Astronomical Observatory is located in Naples, Italy, on Capodimonte hill.
The Observatory is engaged in several international projects, such as Solar Orbiter and ExoMars missions, gravitational waves studies, and observational instruments development for E-ELT, the next generation huge telescope.
The Astronomical Observatory is the oldest scientific institution in Naples, and plays also an important role to promote and disseminate the scientific culture and the astronomical knowledge in the society. For this purpose it houses some outreach facilities like a planetarium and a 40-cm telescope, and owns an important collection of ancient astronomical instruments exhibited in the MuSA-Museum of Astronomical Instruments, and a rare and valuable old books preserved in the Ancient library.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte».
Timeline
- 1812Founded
- 1819Opened
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Napoli Piazza CavourTrain, nearest
900 m as the crow flies
Astronomical Observatory of CapodimonteSalita Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli
Porta di Massa2.3 km
Aeroporto di Napoli Capodichino3.7 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore museums in Campania
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte?
Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte is in Naples, in the province of Napoli (Campania), Italy. Address: Salita Moiariello 16, 80131 Napoli. GPS coordinates: 40.86286, 14.25506.
How old is Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte?
Wikidata dates it to 1812.
What else is there to see near Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte?
Nearby you’ll find: Villa La Riccia (100 m away), Museum of Astronomical Instruments (100 m away), Palazzo Torre Palasciano (300 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 5 photos
- Observatory Capodimonte — JoAnn Miller from Mexico City, Mexico, CC BY 2.0
- Napoli - Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte — Armando Mancini, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples — H. Raab ( User:Vesta ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Osservatorio di Capodimonte 1 — Ferdinando Scala, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Circolo moltiplicatore di Reichenbach — Disegno di Carlo Brioschi (1781-1833), incisione di Tommaso Lo Mastro (1783-1837)., Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences