Jan Paagman Sterrenwacht
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Jan Paagman Sterrenwacht is a public observatory in Asten, in the Netherlands, dedicated to making astronomy accessible to a wide audience.
About Jan Paagman Sterrenwacht
The observatory takes its name from its main telescope, a 24cm Newton reflector with a 180cm focal length, ground by Jan Paagman together with fellow student Andre Sypkens at Eindhoven University of Technology in the early 1960s. After Jan Paagman's death in 1962, his father, Ben Paagman, continued the project to completion.
History
The observatory officially opened on 23 May 1980. Its telescope was originally housed at Museum Klok & Peel in Asten before the observatory took on its current form as a dedicated public facility.
Location & getting there
Jan Paagman Sterrenwacht is located in Asten, a town in the southern Netherlands, making it accessible to visitors from across the Eindhoven region.
Visiting Jan Paagman Sterrenwacht
As a public observatory built around the goal of bringing astronomy to a broad audience, it hosts open evenings for visitors. Check the observatory's official website for current opening hours and event schedules before travelling.
See your named star from here
A telescope ground by hand and kept alive through one family's dedication still points at the same sky your named star belongs to. After you name a star with Star Register, its coordinates can be shared with staff here during a public evening. Browse the star catalogue to choose one.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
