Public Observatory Philippus Lansbergen Foundation

In Middelburg, the Netherlands, the Public Observatory of the Philippus Lansbergen Foundation carries forward a stargazing tradition in the same town where the telescope itself was invented.

About the Observatory

Named after the 16th- and 17th-century astronomer Philippe van Lansberge, the observatory is run entirely by volunteers under a foundation with Dutch ANBI cultural status, and is considered the second-oldest public observatory in the Netherlands.

History

Middelburg's connection to astronomy runs deep: this is the town where, in 1608, Hans Lipperhey is credited with inventing the telescope. The observatory's on-site Hans Lipperhey Museum explores that history, along with lens grinding and telescope construction.

Telescopes & research

Public evenings combine stargazing through the observatory's telescopes with presentations, museum tours, courses, astrophotography events, monthly lectures, solar observations and eclipse viewing sessions.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located at Helm 3 in Middelburg, in the Zeeland province of the Netherlands.

Visiting the Observatory

The observatory opens to the public on Friday evenings from 19:30 to 22:00, extending to Wednesday and Friday evenings in July and August. Group visits can also be arranged by appointment.

See your named star from here

Volunteers here spend Friday nights guiding visitors through the sky, which makes this a natural spot to track down a star named through Star Register using its exact coordinates. Name a star or browse the catalogue to find yours.