Galileum Solingen

In Solingen, Germany, the Galileum turns a decommissioned spherical gas storage tank into one of the more unusual planetariums in the world, paired with a working observatory for public stargazing.

About Galileum Solingen

Opened on 5 July 2019, the Galileum is the first and only planetarium built inside a former gas tank, a 26-metre diameter vessel housing a 12-metre dome. It is run by the Walter-Horn-Gesellschaft e.V. and uses a GOTO Chronos II Hybrid projector to display more than 8,500 stars to an audience of up to 90 people, alongside shows, concerts, lectures and astronomy courses.

Telescopes & research

For live observation, the site's observatory uses a Celestron 14 telescope with a 356mm mirror, giving visitors a real look at the night sky to complement the planetarium's projected shows.

Location & getting there

Galileum Solingen is located at 42719 Solingen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Visiting Galileum Solingen

The Galileum welcomes the public for shows, lectures, concerts and astronomy courses; visit its official website for the current programme, or call ahead on +49 212 32425.

See your named star from here

With a real telescope and a dome that projects thousands of stars, the Galileum is an ideal place to picture the star you've named. Look up its coordinates in our catalogue, or start the process to name a star of your own.