The Virtual Telescope Project, pair of robotic telescopes in Ceccano, Italy

The Virtual Telescope Project is an astronomical observatory in Ceccano that operates telescopes over the internet and offers public live viewings of the night sky. The installation uses advanced robotic telescopes to observe planets, comets, asteroids, and other celestial objects while streaming real-time images to viewers worldwide.

The project was founded in 2006 by Italian astrophysicist Gianluca Masi to share space images with the public and researchers worldwide. After 2023, the telescopes relocated from Ceccano to Manciano in the province of Grosseto, expanding its capabilities and scope.

The name comes from the fact that the robotic telescopes are controlled entirely over the internet, so no one needs to travel to the site. Gianluca Masi and his team comment live on the images as they arrive, and viewers from more than 200 countries have followed these broadcasts during astronomical events.

Live sessions take place at night when the sky is dark enough to see distant objects, and are available free online. Visitors can follow the events on a computer, tablet, or smartphone without needing any special astronomical knowledge or equipment.

The project was among the first to let the public see space images live online while an expert explained what was being viewed in real time. This combination of technology and live explanation made space exploration more accessible to people around the world than traditional observatories ever could have.