Brno Observatory and Planetarium — Online Webcam

Brno Observatory and Planetarium: History on Kraví hora

This webcam is installed on the roof of the observatory and pointed at the planetarium dome — a hemispherical structure with metal cladding, on which the number 1956 is visible. The camera covers not only the facility itself but also the surrounding urban landscape: residential neighborhoods, green slopes, and the hilly horizon of the South Moravian region.

The Brno Observatory and Planetarium is one of the key centers for popularizing astronomy in the Czech Republic. The building is located on Kraví hora (Cow Mountain), in the Veveří district north of Brno's historic center. It is the country's second-largest city with a population of about 380,000, the former capital of Moravia, and the modern administrative center of the South Moravian Region.

From the First Dome to a Multivisual Center

The history of the facility begins in the mid-1950s. The planetarium opened on October 16, 1954 as a modest building with a single dome and a small telescope for night sky observations. Five years later, in 1959, a second building was erected nearby with a lecture hall and additional equipment — this allowed the program to expand and accommodate more visitors.

In 2005, a large-scale reconstruction began, transforming the observatory into a modern multivisual center. Today, it features a 17-meter planetarium dome with Digitarium digital projection, the Exploratorium exhibition hall, and several telescopes for public observations. The old building's dome retains a distinctive inscription — the institution's slogan: «Edge Of The Sky. Where the clouds end, the universe begins».

Kraví hora: Location and Surroundings

Kraví hora is an elevation and simultaneously a park area in the northern part of Brno. In addition to the observatory, there is a sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool, ice rink, and courts for ball games, as well as residential buildings predominantly of historic construction. The Veveří district, where the hill is located, is part of the Brno-střed city district and features dense multi-story development with representative Art Nouveau buildings.

The camera is pointed north from the observatory building, so the frame predominantly shows suburban views: low-rise development, gardens, and hilly landscape characteristic of the foothills of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. In clear weather, the roof of the observatory offers a view over a significant portion of Brno's northern neighborhoods.

Daytime Broadcast: What the Camera Shows

The main online webcam operates in real time and broadcasts a view of the planetarium dome with metal cladding. The dome is clearly distinguishable thanks to the characteristic digital marking 1956 — the year of construction completion or major renovation of the building. In the background, city quarters, trees of the park area, and distant hills are visible.

During the day in good weather, you can examine architectural details of surrounding houses, traffic on Kraví hora streets, and the condition of vegetation in the park. In winter, with snow cover, the contrast between the dark metal of the dome and the white slopes creates a characteristic Moravian landscape.

Night Broadcast and All-Sky Camera

In addition to the main camera, an all-sky camera with a field of view of nearly 180° is installed on the observatory roof, covering the entire sky. The image updates once per minute, and after midnight a timelapse is automatically created. This camera is designed for monitoring the night sky from sunset to sunrise.

The continuous observation project allows tracking cloud conditions, night sky brightness, and visibility of astronomical objects in real time. The data is used for both scientific purposes and planning public observations. The night sky monitoring system operates in automatic mode, recording changes in atmospheric transparency and light pollution levels.

At night, the broadcast can show the starry sky over Brno, satellite passes, and on favorable nights — the Milky Way and meteor showers. However, the quality of the night image depends on the moon phase and cloud cover — in overcast weather, the camera records a dense cloud veil.

How to Get to the Planetarium from Brno Center

Kraví hora is connected to the city center by several tram routes. From the Main Station (Brno hlavní nádraží), you can reach it by trams No. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, or 12 — the journey takes about 15 minutes. You need to get off at the Kraví hora stop, from which the observatory is a few minutes' walk up the slope.

For those traveling by car, there are parking spaces near the observatory. Coordinates for navigation: Veveří district, Brno-střed city district. The climb up the hill is gentle, accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

Climate and Weather in Brno

Brno lies in a zone of moderately continental climate with warm summers and mild winters. The average July temperature is about +19°C, January — about −2°C. Precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, with a maximum in the summer months.

For sky observations, cloud cover is critical. In the autumn-winter period, stratus clouds and fog frequently form over the Moravian lowland, limiting visibility. The best conditions for astronomical observations occur on clear nights in late winter and early spring, when the air is most transparent.

What's Visible on the Camera

The main online webcam broadcasts a view of the Brno planetarium dome — a hemisphere with metal cladding, on which the inscription 1956 is visible. In the background — urban development of the northern quarters, green spaces of Kraví hora park, and hilly landscape in the distance. The camera is pointed north from the observatory building, covering the surroundings of the planetarium and residential areas of the South Moravian capital.