Studying the celestial bodies requires clear and pure air and a dark sky. Both the old observatory of Vilnius University (founded in 1753) and the university observatory (founded in 1921) near Vingios Park in Vilnius gradually found themselves within the city limits, so a new location had to be found. The place for the new observatory was chosen in the Molėtai district, 70 km north of Vilnius, on Kaldinii hill (200 m above sea level) near the small village of Kulionii (about 10 km from Molėtai).
In the fall of 1969, a 25 cm diameter Kassegren system telescope was installed, collected from the remains of several telescopes that were in the Vilnius University observatory. in 1970 In the spring, photometric studies of stars were started with this telescope. in 1974 starlight was seen by a 63 cm telescope. in 1975 The 25 cm reflector was replaced by a newly purchased 35/51 cm diameter Maksutov system photographic telescope. 1975-1977 the administrative building of the observatory with laboratories, a scientific library, a conference hall and a hotel was built. in 1991 work began on a new 165 cm reflector telescope - the largest telescope not only in Lithuania, but also in all of Northern Europe.
Molėtai Astronomical Observatory belongs to VU Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy. Astronomical observations can be made there by all interested Lithuanian astronomers, doctoral students of higher schools, and colleagues from foreign research centers. The observatory is visited by hundreds of excursions every year, the participants of which are introduced to the development of knowledge of the sky, Lithuanian and world astronomy news, telescopes, amazingly beautiful color photos of planets, stars, nebulae, clusters, galaxies.
A sundial is installed on the southern wall of the observatory. Near the telescope towers is a collection of sacred mythological stones. These are bowl-shaped stones, used in ancient times to store healing Thunder water. The windows of the observatory are equipped with stained glass windows created by B. Bruž with an astronomical theme. The Museum of Ethnocosmology is located on the adjacent Kapeliai hill, where visitors can familiarize themselves with historical and ethnographic exhibits that reflect people's views on the sky and the world.
