The observatory is one of the oldest and most pres...

The observatory is one of the oldest and most prestigious of astronomical institutions in Italy. It is situated in an extensive park which is itself an area of great natural beauty. Though the reality of light pollution in a modern city places severe limitations on observation in the visual part of the spectrum, the observatory makes a great effort to involve local schools and the public of Naples in its activities to popularize astronomy. Visitors should be aware, however, that this is a working observatory with significant technological investment in computer technology within its structure, and so access to the museum and to the wider grounds is only possible on days, indeed evenings, in which public events are organized. Such events are fortunately organized frequently on many evenings during the year, thanks to the scientific and cultural commitment of the observatory's director. Talks are given in Italian (resources do not yet permit translation) and recent events have included a history of the exploration of Mars, the use of 'gravitational lensing' to understand the universe, the discoveries of planets beyond our solar system, and the frontiers of our knowledge regarding 'dark matter' and 'dark energy'. Every effort is made to pitch the level of talks between that of a beginner and those who have more knowledge of the subject. All talks are followed by the practical possibility to observe the night sky above Naples, courtesy of the telescopes and commentary of the volunteers of the UAN, or Union of 'Astrophiles' of Naples. Details of events can be found on the Facebook and web pages OACN and UAN. Visitors should be aware that the bus service C63 is not as frequent as other bus services in the centre of the city, though improvements have been made. Taxis can be taken for an affordable cost (around 10 euros one-way) from the centre of the city) and many buses go to the Capodimonte Park, from which the Observatory can be reached after a 5-10 minute walk. Car parking is also available within the grounds, though places are limited so those interested should arrive early.