OMI Astro OMI Astro

Virgo Observatory

Telescopes on the open roll-off roof of Virgo Observatory
  • Telescopes on site: 20
  • Internet: 1 Gbps fiber
  • Monitoring: all-sky camera, cloud sensor and more
  • Backup power: UPS and generator

Our Virgo Observatory stands at 1,700 meters among the terraced loess hills near Pingliang, Gansu Province, in north-central China. Far from city lights, it enjoys Bortle 1–2 skies, an average sky brightness darker than 21.5 SQM, average seeing better than 1.5″ and about 220 clear nights a year.

Its roll-off roof shelters 20 remote telescopes, watched over by an all-sky camera and a cloud sensor, with gigabit fiber internet, backup power, and a team on site for technical support.

Virgo Observatory roof deck overlooking the terraced hills of Gansu

When to image

On the high loess plateau of Gansu, Virgo's clearest nights run from late summer through the winter, from August to February. Spring and June bring good skies too, with May and July somewhat cloudier.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Most clear nightsGood skiesFewer clear nights

Telescopes at Virgo

Observatory status