Astronomical Observatory

The Sant’Erasmo Astronomical Observatory is a key reference for astronomy enthusiasts in the Terni area and beyond.

The observatory was born from the passion and foresight of a group of amateur astronomer friends – Paolo Bellelli, Carlo Cipolla, Marcello Bianchi, and Renato Facchini – who, in the 1960s, used to spend nights between Sant’Erasmo and Monte Torre Maggiore observing the sky with a telescope they had built themselves.

From that experience came the idea of creating a proper observatory, a project that took shape in the early 1970s. The first equipment consisted of a 120 mm refractor, partially self-made. Soon after, the observatory acquired a reflector with a 400 mm mirror – the main instrument of the time – renowned for its high mechanical precision, made possible by Renato Facchini’s technical expertise. This telescope was especially appreciated in the astronomical community for its ability to track celestial bodies accurately, allowing long-exposure photographic observations.

Today, the observatory’s main instrument is a Newton-Cassegrain telescope, through which visitors can admire the wonders of the night sky: the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. During public events, portable telescopes are also set up outside the dome, while captivating astronomy evenings often take place in the nearby Carsulae archaeological area.

The observatory, now the property of the Municipality of Terni thanks to the founders’ donation, is passionately managed by volunteers of the Associazione Ternana Astrofili Massimiliano Beltrame, who continue to promote astronomical culture through events, observations, and educational activities open to the public.