Bismarck Tower (Remscheid)

Standing 30 metres tall at the edge of Remscheid's city park in Germany, the Bismarck Tower is the only one of the country's 173 surviving Bismarck towers to double as a working observatory.

About Bismarck Tower (Remscheid)

Officially the Dr.-Hans-Schäfer-Sternwarte, the observatory sits under a 5-metre dome at the top of the tower, which was originally built in 1901 as a lookout point and later served as an air-raid warning station during the Second World War.

History

An astronomical society was formed in 1949 by physics teacher Hans Schäfer, whose name the observatory now carries. The tower was renovated between 1963 and 1968, with the dome replacing an earlier roof fragment, and the public observatory opened on 3 October 1968. It is now run by the Remscheid Adult Education Centre and has welcomed more than 75,000 visitors over the years.

Telescopes & research

Two historical refractor telescopes sit under the tower's dome, used for public sun observations, star walks, lectures and guided tours rather than professional research.

Location & getting there

The tower stands at 340 metres elevation on the edge of Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany.

Visiting Bismarck Tower (Remscheid)

The observatory is open to the public through the Remscheid Adult Education Centre's programme of sun observations, star walks and guided tours; check the official website for current dates before visiting.

See your named star from here

With two working refractor telescopes and a long tradition of public star walks, the Bismarck Tower is a natural place to look for a star named through Star Register, its certificate includes the coordinates needed to find it. Browse the star catalogue to name one.