Halley observatory

Sterrenwacht Halley is a public observatory near Vinkel in the Dutch province of North Brabant, run by a dedicated astronomy society for the local community. Since opening in 1989 it has introduced generations of visitors in the Netherlands to observational astronomy.

About Halley observatory

The observatory takes its name from Halley's Comet and was built by the astronomy society Sterrenwacht Halley, founded on 29 October 1984. Construction of the current building took place between 1987 and 1989, and the site officially opened on 13 October 1989 near Vinkel, in the municipality of Bernheze, North Brabant.

Telescopes & facilities

Halley observatory houses three domes with telescopes for visual and photographic observing, alongside a small planetarium, an auditorium, an exhibition space, and a radio telescope for tracking signals beyond the visible spectrum. Outside, a 10-kilometre Planet Trail scales the solar system down to walkable distances, letting visitors experience the true proportions of our cosmic neighbourhood on foot.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the countryside near Vinkel, in North Brabant in the southern Netherlands, a rural setting that keeps skies noticeably darker than nearby towns.

Visiting Halley observatory

Halley observatory opens its domes to the public on the first and third Friday of each month from 21:00, weather permitting. Because clear skies matter for telescope viewing, it's worth checking ahead before you travel.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star through Star Register, its exact coordinates can be pointed to by any telescope, including the domes at Halley observatory. Browse the catalogue to find your star and its position in the sky.