Volkssterrenwacht Urania is set to build a new solar observatory in Hove.
The plans were announced on Saturday afternoon during the partial solar eclipse. The Flemish government is supporting the project with a grant of €185,000.
“Eclipses were historically seen as bad omens,” said director Marc Van den Broeck. “They were believed to indicate that the gods were angry or that the sun would abandon the earth. In some cultures, the sun and moon were seen as lovers who met and then got lost among the stars.”
For Urania, however, the eclipse marks the beginning of a new chapter. Construction of the solar observatory is set to start in the coming months. The facility will house a telescope designed specifically for observing the sun.
Urania currently engages youth and visits schools with a mobile planetarium. “In the future observatory, young people will be able to see sunspots, for example,” Van den Broeck added. “This will inspire them to pursue scientific studies. There is nothing quite like a personal observation.”
Compared to the existing observation tower in Hove, the new building, located next to the planetarium, will be more accessible to larger groups. It will also feature a lift for people with disabilities, allowing them to use the telescope. The observatory will be equipped with a special telescope for safe daytime solar observations. The opening is planned for mid-2026.
