Founded in November 1992, the Circolo Astrofili Talmassons (C.AS.T.) is today one of the best-known astronomical associations in Friuli Venezia Giulia, serving as a key reference point for scientific outreach and sky observation.
Since its early years, the association has organized events capable of engaging an increasingly wide audience. Among the most famous is the historic “Night of St. Lawrence” which has become a regular summer event, attracting hundreds of curious visitors and astronomy enthusiasts. Over the years, C.AS.T. has carried out numerous initiatives, including public observing sessions in town squares and astronomy evenings in Lignano Sabbiadoro, bringing thousands of visitors closer to the thrill of observing the Moon, planets, and stars through telescopes.
A major milestone came in 2001 with the inauguration of the Talmassons Astronomical Observatory, attended by Margherita Hack as the event’s patron. The facility, equipped with a self-built dome and advanced scientific instruments, enabled the association to complement outreach activities with high-level research and astrophotography.
Today, the Observatory is above all a place for meeting and discovery: monthly public evenings, guided observations, and school visits are organized with the aim of making astronomy accessible to everyone, both adults and children. Among the most memorable events are those dedicated to the great oppositions of Mars and lunar eclipses, which brought thousands of people to Talmassons, transforming the Observatory’s lawn into a true “village of the stars.”
C.AS.T. continues its mission with enthusiasm: to share the beauty of the cosmos with the public and promote scientific culture in a region that has, not by chance, become known as “the town of the stars.”
Advance booking is required to visit the Observatory.
