Svábhegy Observatory near the scenic hilltop meadow of Normafa has just reopened after complete renovation. Hungary’s largest telescope offers views of distant galaxies and the remnants of exploding stars, while all kinds of events are being planned at this venerable facility.
The astronomy institute decided to set up an observatory in the Buda hills in 1920. By 1928, the expansive Budapest Dome was completed: the 60cm Zeiss-Heyde telescope was then the largest in the country and to this day remains impressive to outsiders.
After being closed and operating only according to a limited schedule, the observatory has reopened with the purpose of making the beauty of the Universe and the achievements of science accessible to all.
Events run day and night. They tend to be Hungarian-only but the basic function of the observatory remains as before: an H-alpha telescope allows visitors to explore the detail on the surface of the sun, the craters of the Moon, the moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. Astronomers provide tours of the constellations, interactive lectures and studies of meteorites through a microscope.
Details and prices are available here (Hungarian-only).
Svábhegy Observatory
District XII. Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 15-17
Take bus 21 from Széll Kálmán tér/Déli pu to the terminus at Csillebérc, KFKI (25min journey time).
Tours at 9.30am, noon & 2.30pm, event times according to programme
