Graz-Lustbühel satellite station

Graz-Lustbühel satellite station is a research facility positioned on a hilltop near the city edge, equipped with advanced instruments for tracking satellites and space objects with high precision. The installation uses specialized receivers and laser technology to monitor navigation satellites and support global positioning systems.

The facility began in 1943 as a small astronomy observation station on land near Lustbuhel Castle. Over the following decades it was gradually expanded and modernized into a satellite tracking center with laser-based systems.

The facility combines research efforts from the University of Graz, Graz University of Technology, and the Austrian Academy of Sciences in space observation programs.

The hilltop location provides unobstructed sky view, which is essential for accurate satellite observation work. Keep in mind this is an active research facility where access may be limited or require advance arrangement.

The facility operates a laser-ranging unit capable of measuring satellite distances with an accuracy of just a few centimeters. This precision makes it possible to detect even minute movements of the Earth's crust.

Location: Styria

GPS coordinates: 47.06710,15.49350

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:23