The Skalnaté pleso Observatory () is an astronomical and meteorological observatory located in the locality of the same name in the High Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, on the south-eastern slopes of Lomnický štít near Tatranská Lomnica.
Its MPC observatory code is 056 Skalnate Pleso.
The observatory is named after a nearby mountain lake (Skalnaté pleso, literally: "Rocky Tarn").
The observatory, whose motto is Per aspera ad astra, began operating in 1943 under the direction of Antonín Bečvář.
The asteroid 2619 Skalnaté Pleso was named in honor of the observatory.
The observatory also operates an all-sky observation station equipped with cameras fitted with fisheye lenses and integrated into the European Fireball Network.
Department of Stellar Studies
The department has specialised in the study of variable stars, particularly those with large variability such as cataclysmic variables, symbiotic novae, Ap and Bp stars and peculiar stars.
Other activities
The observatory publishes its own scientific journal in English, Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnaté Pleso (CAOSP).
A weather station operated by the Institute of Geophysics of Bratislava is also installed at the observatory.
See also
- 2619 Skalnaté Pleso, asteroid
- Skalnaté pleso
- European Fireball Network
- Milan Antal
- Antonín Mrkos
- Ľudmila Pajdušáková
- Margita Vozárová
References
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External links
- Skalnate Pleso Observatory, home page