In 1942 the Asiago astrophysical observatory was founded by the University of Padua, the then largest telescope in Europe dedicated to Galileo, a reflecting telescope with a 122 cm diameter mirror. It is with this instrument that great successes have been achieved, mainly in the field of variable stars, novae stars, supernovae and galaxies, creating a precious data archive. The University of Padua has a long and ancient tradition in the astronomical field. As early as the fourteenth century Pietro d'Abano was entrusted with the teaching chair in astrology, he is considered the first representative of Paduan Aristotelianism. From the sixteenth century leading figures such as Copernicus and Galileo studied or taught in the Athenaeum. In 2008 the Museum of Astronomy Instruments was inaugurated which is located in the main building of the Observatory and exhibits the acquisition and reduction instruments used from the 40s to the 80s of the twentieth century in four rooms and in the dome of the telescope. , and which have been the basis for astronomical studies still carried out today, with worldwide importance and competition. The conservation work begun with this Museum has highlighted the presence in the observatory of still functioning instruments that represent a unicum in the world.