Classic South Bohemia
Observatoř Kleť — KLENOT and the asteroid hunters
Autem 27 min
On the summit of Kleť stands the highest observatory in the Czech Republic and one of the places where new bodies in space are genuinely searched for. Over a thousand asteroids were discovered here and the team took part in one of five cases in history when an impact was predicted in advance.
Observatoř Kleť lies below the summit of Blanský les and is the highest observatory in the Czech Republic — above the inversion layer it also has more clear nights than almost anywhere in the country. Jana and Miloš Tichý and their team discovered over a thousand asteroids here and in 2022 took part in one of five cases in human history when an asteroid impact on Earth was predicted before it happened. Jana Tichá has since 2003 chaired the international commission that approves names for asteroids and comets in the solar system — not only Kleť's.
Practical details
- Autem 27 min
- Opening hours: obvykle 10:00–16:00, v červenci a srpnu denně; prohlídky s průvodcem každou hodinu 10:30–15:30
On site
The observatory stands just below the Kleť summit; the last stretch is on foot through the forest. Domes with telescopes are visible from afar; the main one holds the metre KLENOT telescope. Inside hangs a permanent exhibition of astronomical photos taken on Kleť. In clear weather the telescope can project sunspots onto a screen.