The Grosseto Municipal Astronomical Observatory, a separate section of the Museo di Storia Naturale, was created at the initiative of the Maremmana Society for Astronomical Studies, which decided in 1983 to remodel a small abandoned school for this purpose. Inaugurated in 1986, in the following years it was quite successful with the public, thanks to the enthusiastic educational initiatives of the society consisting of numerous activities, such as conferences, exhibitions and evening sessions of observing the stars. But in 1992, due to safety problems involving the electrical system, the premises were closed to the public. The Society’s activity has continued, however, in the field of research, assisted by the University of Siena.

The Commune of Grosseto, in view of the public’s renewed interest in celestial phenomena, such as the passing of the comets Hyakutake (1996) and Hale-Bopp (1997), has recently decided to purchase a portable telescope to be used for observation directly in the city’s public squares. For the observatory instead, although its facilities have been brought into compliance with the legal requisites, no reopening is foreseen.