(Photo: Vietnam Space Center)

The observatory will serve basic studies on optical astrophysics, disseminate knowledge of the universe in the community, and support human resource training in astrophysics. With an investment of 2.6 million USD, construction of the observatory began 3 years ago on Hon Chong islet in Nha Trang city. The observatory is equipped with a space telescope of 0.5m in diameter inside a dome that is 9m in diameter. Once opened to visitors, the dome can accommodate up to 60 people who can observe space or watch movies about planets, stars and history of the earth.