Loiano is home of the telescopes of the Bologna Astronomical Observatory of the National Astrophysics Institute (INAF). The Zeiss telescope, with a mirror of 60 cm in diameter, was built in the thirties and it was joined by the Cassini telescope, the second largest in Italy with a mirror of 152 cm in diameter, built in seventies. The Cassini is used for research, whilst the Zeiss is used for teaching and is open to visitors - from April to October – for more than 50 evenings in order to view the moon and the planets as well as, during this period, objects from the depths of space.

Observatory S.P. 65 of the Futa. 2 km after Loiano following the directions for Monghidoro
Visits to the 60 cm telescope (by Sofòs) max 20 people per evening.
Admission: up to 6 years old free, between 6 and 14 years old 2 Euros, adults 5 Euros; schools Euro 40/class. Meeting point foresteria square: April, May, September, October at 21; June, July, August at 21.30.
Booking required: Loiano Library, tel. 051 6543617, urp@comune.loiano.bologna.it, www.loiano.eu,www.sofosdivulgazionedellescienze.it
Daytime visits to the 152 cm telescope: throughout the year, both for groups and for school classes. Booking required: tel. 051 6544434, tel. 0512095753, info@sofosdivulgazionedellascienza.it