The Leopold Figl Observatory’s 1.5m telescope stands at a crossroads: with new scientific opportunities on the horizon and rapid advances in astronomical technology, now is the time to chart a new course for its future. On December 11-12, 2025, we invite the Friends of the Figl to Vienna for a collaborative workshop dedicated to shaping the next chapter of the largest telescope in Austria.

Our immediate vision is to position the observatory as a key player in the follow-up and characterization of extrasolar planets discovered by current and future space missions. However, our ambitions extend beyond exoplanets alone. The Figl telescope has the potential to support a wide range of cutting-edge research especially in time-domain astronomy and beyond.

 To realize this vision, we are bringing together a diverse group of experts:

• Specialists in telescope hardware, operations, and integration
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• Scientists with decades of experience in ground-based monitoring campaigns
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• Members of the exoplanet follow-up community; both ground-based and space-based
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• Software and data pipeline developers
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• Stakeholders from the University of Vienna and the government of Lower Austria.

 Our goal is to foster an open, forward-looking discussion that will:

• Identify the optimal scientific directions for the observatory
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• Define hardware and software requirements, such as the ideal camera system for high-precision photometry
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• Address long-term strategy, sustainability, and the human resources needed for a thriving program
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• Build a collaborative roadmap that ensures the Figl Observatory remains at the forefront of astronomical discovery through 2030 and beyond.

We look forward to your expertise, your ideas, and your partnership as we work together to secure the future of the Figl Observatory.

For preparation of the final discussion, please see the key science and technical questions here.