Gelber Turm

Gelber Turm, the “Yellow Tower”, is an astronomical observatory built into a historic tower on the Vorholz heights ridge above Hildesheim, Germany, at 206 metres elevation.

About Gelber Turm

The tower was originally built in 1886 as a 15.8-metre reforestation marker, its yellow brickwork giving the site its name. It has since been extended to a height of 28 metres and fitted with a dome and a 134-step staircase to convert it into a working observatory.

History

A 60-centimetre mirror telescope, sourced from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics in Potsdam, was installed by helicopter on 19 August 1999, making Gelber Turm home to the largest mirror telescope in southern Lower Saxony. Since 2011 the site has been run by the Hildesheimer Gesellschaft für Astronomie e.V., the Hildesheim Society for Astronomy.

Telescopes & research

The 60cm mirror telescope remains the observatory's main instrument, used by the Hildesheim astronomy society for both public observation sessions and amateur research work.

Location & getting there

Gelber Turm stands at 206 metres elevation on the Vorholz ridge overlooking Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany, a wooded high point close to the city.

Visiting Gelber Turm

The Hildesheim Society for Astronomy runs Friday evening observation sessions for up to 25 participants at a time. Check the society's website for current dates and booking details before visiting.

See your named star from here

With its 60cm telescope trained on the night sky most Friday evenings, Gelber Turm is a real place to picture the coordinates of a star named through Star Register. Name a star or search the catalogue to find its exact position.