Konkoly Observatory

Konkoly Observatory is an astronomical research center in Svábhegy with three research sites across Hungary, including the main facility in Budapest and a mountain station at higher elevation. The facility conducts research in stellar physics, solar system exploration, planetary evolution, exoplanets, nuclear astrophysics, and cosmological studies.

The institution was founded in 1871 by Miklós Konkoly-Thege as a private astronomical station and transferred to state ownership in 1899. After World War I, it relocated to Budapest and developed into a modern research center.

The site bears the name of its founder Miklós Konkoly-Thege, whose passion for sky observation shaped the institution. Visitors can see how this scientific tradition continues in the daily work of researchers and how international astronomers collaborate here.

The observatory has a public visitor center at Svábhegy where you can experience astronomical instruments and research activities firsthand. Clear skies are ideal for visiting, as this improves observations and your understanding of celestial bodies.

The observatory operates a mountain station at higher elevation, allowing the center to coordinate observations across a wider geographic region. This decentralized structure enables more comprehensive sky monitoring and research programs.

Location: Budapest

Architects: Gyula Sváb, K. Róbert Kertész

Official opening: 1871

Elevation above the sea: 474 m

Part of: Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Website: http://konkoly.hu

GPS coordinates: 47.49970,18.96389

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55