Kleť Observatory, Astronomical observatory on Mount Kleť, Czech Republic
Kleť Observatory is an astronomical observatory built in 1957 just below the summit of Mount Kleť in the Blanský Forest, at 1,070 metres altitude. It is part of the České Budějovice Observatory and Planetarium and operates a 0.57-m f/5.2 reflector installed in 1993 and the 1.06-m KLENOT telescope added in 2002.
The facility was founded in 1957 and grew into a leading research center under director Antonín Mrkos beginning in 1965. His leadership established the foundation for many important astronomical discoveries in the region.
Kleť Observatory is part of the České Budějovice Observatory and Planetarium, and its astronomers publish on two dedicated websites, planetky.cz and komety.cz. The public can usually visit on weekends in May and June, and daily in July and August.
The mountain enjoys roughly 150 clear nights per year, creating ideal conditions for observation and research. Administrative offices are located in the nearby city of České Budějovice, where visitors can obtain more information.
Kleť is the highest observatory in the Czech Republic, at 1,070 m in the Blanský Forest. Among its finds is asteroid 7796 Járacimrman, rediscovered there on 16 January 1996 by Zdeněk Moravec after being lost since 1990. Comet 196P/Tichý also carries the observatory's name.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,522 contributors worldwide.
