Project Observatory - People's Observatory AstroLAB IRIS (Ypres, Belgium).

Oct. 29, 20253176 Views The Westhoek, Ypres, West Flanders 3 min read

Photos – Info – Weather – Tips – Geo Info – Starry sky [- Tides]

General information about AstroLAB IRIS

AstroLAB IRIS is a particularly beautiful and interesting initiative: it is both a Project Observatory and a People's Observatory located near Ypres. A multi-disciplinary team of amateur astronomers united in the Astronomical Contact Group vzw, created two observatories in the Provincial Domain "De Palingbeek". For this they enjoyed the support of the Province of West Flanders, Europe (Interreg projects), City of Ypres and Flanders(Tourism Flanders). The project observatory works on all kinds of scientific and technical projects (international observing programs, spectroscopy, etc.), the people's observatory aims at informing the general public.

Everyone can therefore visit AstroLAB IRIS to learn more about the universe and space travel. Among other things, you can visit a rotating observation dome, watch a mirror being ground in the optical workshop, see a very large model of the International Space Station ISS, look at our Moon and planets through various telescopes, and so much more. One of the big attractions is the giant astronomical telescope NMPT-68: it has a mirror of 68 cm in diameter. And, uh, did you see how the entire roof of a building is moved before your eyes ? Interesting for the whole family! Suitable both for individual and group visits. Every year more than 100 groups visit this top location. Book on time via info@astrolab.be . Allow at least an hour and a half for the duration of your visit. Bet you will find it so interesting that you will wish you had booked longer.

Geographical information

Address: Verbrandemolenstraat, Zillebeke, West Flanders, Belgium
Geographical coordinates:
- Google Maps: Latitude = 50.8199244 - Longitude = 2.8999003
- Open Street Maps: Latitude = 50.818096 - Longitude = 2.909837
- Altitude h = 38 m
Indication of AstroLAB IRIS on:
Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen - Google Maps - OpenStreetMap.
Route to AstroLAB IRIS: Route via Google Maps

Meteo

Current Weather Daily Weather Hourly Weather Weather Map

Diksmuidsepoort, BE

07:40, 01/17/2026

6°C

Low: 4° High: 6°

Feels like 4°C°|. cloudy

Sunrise 08:42

Sunset 17:13

Humidity 98 %

Pressure 1015 mb

Wind 9 Km/h SSE

Wind Gust 19 Km/h

UV Index 0

Precipitation 0 mm

Clouds 100%

Rain Chance 0%

Visibility 10 km

Day	Condition	Temperature	Rain Chance	Wind	Humidity	Pressure
Today 22:00	cloudy	4° \| 6°°C	0%	12 Km/h	98 %	1019 mb
Tomorrow 22:00	cloudy	4° \| 9°°C	0%	12 Km/h	91 %	1019 mb
Mon Jan 26 10:00 p.m.	partly cloudy	3° \| 9°°C	0%	11 Km/h	92 %	1019 mb
Tue Jan 26 10:00 p.m.	slightly cloudy	5° \| 10°°C	0%	11 Km/h	92 %	1020 mb
Wed Jan 26 10:00 p.m.	cloudless	3° \| 8°°C	0%	22 Km/h	93 %	1014 mb

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Hour	Condition	Temperature	Rain Chance	Wind	Humidity	Pressure
Today 10:00	cloudy	7° \| 7°°C	0%	8 Km/h	98 %	1015 mb
Today 13:00	cloudy	9° \| 10°°C	0%	9 Km/h	88 %	1016 mb
Today 16:00	cloudy	10° \| 10°°C	0%	9 Km/h	91 %	1017 mb
Today 19:00	cloudy	8° \| 8°°C	0%	10 Km/h	94 %	1018 mb
Today 22:00	cloudy	9° \| 9°°C	0%	12 Km/h	89 %	1019 mb
Tomorrow 01:00	cloudy	8° \| 8°°C	0%	12 Km/h	87 %	1019 mb
Tomorrow 04:00	partly cloudy	6° \| 6°°C	0%	10 Km/h	90 %	1019 mb
Tomorrow 07:00	cloudy	6° \| 6°°C	0%	9 Km/h	91 %	1019 mb

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Starry sky above AstroLAB IRIS


  
    ⭐ In-The-Sky — Zonsondergang (FOV 90°, Zuiden)✨ In-The-Sky — Nu (FOV 90°, Zuiden)🔭 Stellarium — Nu (FOV 90°, Noorden)

Internet information from and about AstroLAB IRIS

Visitor numbers: roughly about 10,000 visitors per year.
Information about AstroLAB IRIS in Wikipedia.
Official website of AstroLAB IRIS.
Official website of the Flemish People's Observatories.
Information about the Provincial Domain "De Palingbeek" (this is the largest domain of the Province of West Flanders).

Tourist Office "Toerisme Ieper" / "Visit Ieper":
Website - Facebook - Instagram
Toerisme Westhoek (Westtoer)
Website - Facebook - Instagram

Our photos about AstroLAB IRIS

Onze foto’s, video’s, … zijn allen (c) 2004-2026, Top.Vlaanderen, België. Ze mogen niet “zomaar” worden overgenomen of gebruikt. Ze zijn evenwel licentieerbaar. Wil U uw eigen toeristische attractie, B&B, vakantiewoning… laten fotograferen door ons, dat kan ook. Neem hiervoor contact met ons op via ons Contactformulier .

AstroLAB *IRIS* has 2 observatories: one with a dome, the other with a retractable roof.
Spectacular to see all this in operation in the middle of the beautiful nature of the Provincial Domain "De Palingbeek".

One of the attractions of AstroLAB *IRIS*: the "giant" telescope with a mirror diameter of 68 cm is set up over 2 floors.

In the auditorium of AstroLAB *IRIS*, about 50 visitors can attend digital presentations (including 3D presentations) in a very comfortable way.

AstroLAB *IRIS* has many specialists, including in solar photography.
One person has been studying the activity of our daily star, the Sun, for more than 40 years (just about every day).

At AstroLAB *IRIS*, you can take basic astronomy courses, make observations
with one of the telescopes, learn how to take an astrophoto, and so much more.

In AstroLAB IRIS you can get acquainted with both lens and mirror viewers.
They also show how such mirrors are cut: they have an optical workshop.

Disclaimer: All information presented on top.vlaanderen has been compiled with the utmost care. It is also checked regularly. If you have any comments, errors, additional information, etc... please contact us via our contact form. We are not responsible for possible incorrect or incomplete information.