Franz-Kroller-Sternwarte
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On a rooftop in Traiskirchen, just 20 kilometres south of Vienna, the Franz-Kroller-Sternwarte has been Lower Austria's oldest public observatory since it opened in 1967.
About Franz-Kroller-Sternwarte
Established by the town of Traiskirchen on the roof of its town hall, the observatory was renamed in 1987 in honour of Franz Kroller on its twentieth anniversary. It is run today by a local association of amateur astronomers.
History
The observatory opened in 1967 as the first public observatory in Lower Austria, and its telescopes were modernised in 2016 and 2017 to keep pace with current amateur equipment.
Location & getting there
The observatory sits in Traiskirchen, Lower Austria, about 20 kilometres south of Vienna, making it a straightforward day or evening trip from the capital.
Visiting Franz-Kroller-Sternwarte
Guided tours run for a free donation: solar viewing on the first Sunday of each month, and evening sky tours every Monday from 8pm. Confirm the current schedule on the observatory's website before visiting.
See your named star from here
Because it welcomes the public every Monday evening, this is a genuinely practical place to see a star you've named with Star Register through a real telescope. Bring the coordinates from your certificate, look them up in our catalogue, and ask the volunteer astronomers to point their instrument your way.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
