- Place
- Kėdainiai District Municipality
- Region
- Aukštaitija
- Type
- private astronomy observatory and educational venue
- Address
- Nevėžio g. 13, Gailiakaimis, Josvainiai eldership, Kėdainiai District, LT-58205
- Coordinates
- 55.16266, 23.80262
- Visit duration
- 1-2 hours; an evening programme may run longer
- Best time
- a clear evening for live observing, or any pre-arranged educational session
Garsios Tylos Observatory in Gailiakaimis
An observatory in a rural homestead by the Nevėžis
Garsios Tylos Observatory stands at Nevėžio g. 13 in Gailiakaimis, in Josvainiai eldership. It is not a large hilltop dome but a private family observatory in an old rural homestead, where the astronomy programme is accompanied by an orchard, open fields, and the quiet of the Nevėžis Valley.
The name reflects the character of the homestead. Its hosts describe a house and fruit trees more than a century old, and a silence worth hearing. A visit therefore feels different from a city planetarium: the sky is introduced through a small, personal place and the story of everyday life around it.
The 2018 observatory and RASA 11
Simas Šatkauskas developed his interest in the stars as a child and designed and built the observatory in the family yard in 2018. Its structure is made for the sky: the roof rolls away so that the telescope opens to the real sky rather than to a simulated ceiling.
The main instrument is an electronic RASA 11 telescope with an astrophotography camera. There is no conventional eyepiece for visitors to take turns looking through; instead, the camera image is sent to a large screen, allowing the whole group to see the observing result together.
What a programme can show
On a clear night, a programme may include live views of the Moon, planets, stars, or other celestial objects. What can be observed depends on the season, time of night, cloud cover, and the telescope, so the exact object depends on the conditions that evening.
Cloud does not automatically cancel the educational part. The hosts can show recordings and astrophotographs captured with the telescope and explain the Universe even when direct observing is impossible. That flexibility matters in Lithuania, where a perfectly clear evening can never be guaranteed.
School sessions and evening programmes
The school programme Through the Universe with a Telescope covers sunspots, different telescope capabilities, the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, planets, nebulae, and a practical introduction to the instrument. The programme lasts 45-60 minutes, with the presentation adapted to the pupils' age.
Seasonal weekend evenings are organised for adults. Before the talk, visitors can get to know the homestead and have tea or coffee; afterwards they hear the presentation and, if the weather allows, look at the sky. The hall holds roughly 35-40 people, so the atmosphere is closer to a small gathering than a mass event.
Booking and planning a visit to Garsios Tylos Observatory
Visits are accepted only with advance registration. Unregistered visitors are not admitted, so simply following the map pin is not enough. For a group, evening programme, or school session, write to garsi.tyla@gmail.com or call +370 645 64973.
There is no fixed daily opening schedule because visits depend on a booking and a chosen programme. Prices may also vary with group size and format, so confirm the current offer before paying. For an evening session, bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes because part of the experience takes place outdoors.
