Observatory Sankt Andreasberg

In the forested Harz mountains of Germany, Sankt Andreasberg Observatory was built with a distinctive mission: to make the night sky accessible to everyone, disabled or not.

About Sankt Andreasberg Observatory

Sankt Andreasberg Observatory, also called the Harz Observatory, sits at 710 metres elevation in the town of Sankt Andreasberg. It is run by the charitable society Sternwarte Sankt Andreasberg e.V., whose explicit goal is opening up astronomy to all visitors through celestial observation, lectures, and workshops.

History

The society behind the observatory was founded in 2008, and the observatory itself opened its doors in August 2014. It was designed from the outset to become the first fully barrier-free observatory in Germany.

Telescopes & research

The site is equipped with a 400mm reflecting telescope and five telescope mounts, with a 120cm reflecting telescope under assembly. Its instruments include tactile star charts and GPS-guided talking telescopes, features built specifically to let visually impaired visitors experience the sky. Each August the observatory also hosts the Sankt Andreasberg Telescope Meet-up (STATT), drawing more than 100 amateur astronomers.

Location & getting there

Sankt Andreasberg sits in the Harz region of Germany at 710 metres above sea level, a wooded upland area known for darker skies than the surrounding lowlands. The observatory's wheelchair-accessible design makes it one of the more welcoming stops for visitors of all abilities.

Visiting Sankt Andreasberg Observatory

The observatory is wheelchair accessible and regularly hosts public observation evenings, lectures, and workshops, alongside the annual STATT telescope meet-up in August. Check the observatory's website for the current schedule before visiting.

See your named star from here

An observatory built to let anyone find their way among the stars is a fitting place to look for one you have named yourself. Name a star with Star Register and bring its coordinates to Sankt Andreasberg's talking telescopes, or browse existing entries in our catalogue.