Boasting one of the largest telescopes in the country, approximately 20,000 people from all over Slovakia visit the Milan Rastislav Štefánik Observatory and Planetarium in Hlohovec, Trnava Region. Now, the region is planning another round of renovation works worth €2 million, calling it one of its top projects of the year.

The construction of a new visitor centre should also begin in addition to the modernisation of the premises.

According to regional governor Jozef Viskupič, the institution is to become one of the most modern astronomical facilities in Central Europe.

At the moment, the region has all the necessary permits, awaiting money from European funds. The work should start immediately after receiving the subsidy, completion expected next year.

The new visitor centre will be the first point of contact with the observatory. Visitors will obtain information about the range of activities and be directed to screenings in the planetarium, observations, or to the science and technology pavilions. These will be created after the reconstruction of the administrative section and serve to communicate science and technology.

Variable stars

Investment in equipment is also planned in addition to the construction work.

“Equipment intended to communicating astronomy in a modern and attractive way is given priority. We do not want to neglect the scientific and research activities of the observatory and planetarium,” says director of the Culture and Sports Department of the Trnava Self-Governing Region.

In this regard, three new domes should be added along with the equipment intended for research on changes in the brightness of variable stars, the acquisition of stellar spectra and astrophotography of the Sun, planets, nebulae and galaxies.

At the moment, the main Cassegrain telescope has been in operation since 1983 and is one of the three largest in Slovakia.

It allowed the first modern discovery of variable stars by Slovaks, entering the institution in the history of astrophysical research in Slovakia.