According to its statutes, the Foundation has the goal of honouring the memory of the late Robert A. Naef (22 July 1907 – 13 March 1975) by installing his Reinfelder & Hertel telescope in a newly created astronomical observatory.

The observatory has the further goal of actively contributing to the exposure of young people to the art and science of astronomy.

For 50 years Robert Adolf Naef, who worked at the Urania Observatory in Zurich, dedicated all his spare time and energy to popularising astronomy.

The astronomical observatory in Épendes is located a few kilometres outside the city of Fribourg (in German Freiburg) in Switzerland, in the countryside, at 700 m above sea level.

Thanks to its ideal location in the south of the greater area of Fribourg and 22 km in the north from Bulle, the observatory serves the purpose of disseminating astronomical knowledge, particularly to children and teenagers as well as to the general population.

The installation of the telescope opens to visitors several new possibilities : Designer: AOK (Astrooptik Kohler) The observatory is also equipped with a more modern and more powerful instrument - a Celestron C14.

A mini planetarium, with seating for a dozen people, is used for initiating the general public into celestial mechanics : explanations as to the motion of stars and planets, the location of constellations, etc.

A simultaneous projection of the skies together with a drawing of the constellations and astronomical pictures or movies is made possible thanks to the incorporated DVD drive.