| Molėtai Astronomical Observatory | |
| Organization: | Vilnius University Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy |
| Location: | Kulionys, Lithuania |
| Coords: | 55.316°N 25.5633°W |
| Altitude: | 200 meters (656 feet) |
| Telescope1 Name: | Maksutov telescope |
| Telescope1 Type: | 35 cm reflector |
| Telescope2 Name: | telescope |
| Telescope2 Type: | 63 cm reflector |
| Telescope3 Name: | telescope |
| Telescope3 Type: | 165 cm reflector |
The Molėtai Astronomical Observatory (MAO; Molėtų astronomijos observatorija in Lithuanian) is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Vilnius University Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy. It is located on the Kaldiniai Hill next to Kulionys, Lithuania, 10 km from the town of Molėtai.
The old astronomical observatory of Vilnius University, opened in 1753, and the new University observatory near Vingis Park, built in 1921, gradually appeared inside the city of Vilnius where conditions turned out to be unsatisfactory for astronomical observations. In 1969, a new observatory was started[1] in the Molėtai district, about 70 km north of Vilnius. It is built on the Kaldiniai Hill just near the small village of Kulionys, about 10 km from the town of Molėtai. In the fall of 1969, the first 25 cm diameter telescope of the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory (MAO) was mounted. Later on, it was placed to the 35/51 cm Maksutov telescope. In 1974 and 1991, the reflecting telescopes of 63 cm and 165 cm diameters were put into operation.
MAO currently has three research telescopes: