Astronomical Observatory of the University of Kazan is located in an elevated part of the city center. It is located on the campus, at an altitude of 75 meters above sea level. Owned by the Department of Astronomy of Kazan University, which was founded by Joseph Johann Littrow in 1810. At the observatory scientific and educational function; it brings together the Department of Astronomy (Department of Physics), laboratories of stellar atmospheres, astrophotometry and observational astronomy. Astronomical Observatory - it is a regional center for training and the use of satellite navigation systems. This is of great practical importance for the development of the region.

The building of the observatory built by the architect M.P.Korinfskogo in the classical style. It is not far from the main university building. It laid the foundation stone in 1833, and became operational in 1838.

The main facade faces south-west. It has a concave shape and surrounds the terrace. On the wings of the building are the turret for astronomical instruments. In the middle is a tower with a 9-inch telescope - refractor with a diameter of 23 cm. Refracting telescope was made in the workshop of Fraunhofer. It is the largest in Russia refractor, made from in this shop.

During a fire in 1842 the building was badly damaged, but it was restored. In 1885, the observatory set up the service time. Exhibited in the Department of the clock shows the exact time Kazan. In the observatory there for the latest instruments of the time: heliometer Repsold, equatorial, trumpet George Dollond, a large transit instrument, Vienna meridian circle. It worked D.I.Dubyago, Lobachevsky, M.V.Lyapunov, D.Ya.Simonov, M.A.Kovalsky, P.S.Poretsky. Nowadays at the Department of Astronomy of the University scientists conducted various studies, there is a training and post-graduate students.