Astronomical Observatory of the Kazan University is located in the elevated part of the town centre. It is located on the University campus, at a height of 75 metres above sea level. Belongs to the Department of astronomy of the University of Kazan, which was founded by Joseph Johann Littrow in 1810. At the Observatory research and education function; it brings together the Department of astronomy, faculty of physics), laboratory of stellar atmospheres, astrophotometry and observational astronomy. Astronomical Observatory is a regional centre for training and use of satellite navigation systems. It is of great practical importance for the development of the region.

The Observatory building was built by architect M. P. Corinthian in style of classicism. It is not far from the main building of the University. Laid the building in 1833, and began operations in 1838.

The main facade of the building looking southwest. It has a concave shape and it is surrounded by a terrace. On the wings of the building are the towers for astronomical instruments. In the middle there is a tower with 9-inch telescope is a refractor with a diameter of 23 cm Telescope-refractor manufactured in the workshop of Fraunhofer. It is the largest in Russia refractor, made in this workshop.

During the fire of 1842, the building was badly damaged, but was restored. In 1885, the Observatory set up the service time. In a window display of the Department's clocks the exact Kazan time. The Observatory was the latest at that time instruments: heliometer Repsold, Equatorial, trumpet George Dollond, great tool passage, Vienna the Meridian circle. Worked here D. I. Dubiago, N. And.Lobachevsky, M. V. Lyapunov, J. D. Simonov, M. A. Kovalsky, P. S. Poretsky. In our time at the Department of astronomy of the University scientists conducted various studies is the training of graduate and undergraduate students.