Reutlingen Observatory and Planetarium

Reutlingen Observatory and Planetarium sits atop the Ferdinand-von-Steinbeis-Schule in Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, combining a working telescope dome with a public planetarium.

About Reutlingen Observatory and Planetarium

The site pairs an observatory dome with a planetarium 4.20 metres in diameter that seats up to 25 guests. It sits at an elevation of 385 metres and is run with the help of around 15 volunteers who staff public tours and group visits.

History

The observatory was founded in 1956, with the planetarium added a decade later in 1966. A major 2010 renovation added a lecture hall and a new 5.3-metre dome housing a 50-centimetre mirror telescope. In September 2024, the planetarium's projection system was upgraded to digital technology.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's instruments include a 20-inch (508mm) Dall-Kirkham astrograph with a focal length of 3454mm, a 12-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, an 8-inch Newtonian, and a 4-inch refractor, giving visitors a range of views from wide star fields to detailed planetary observation.

Location & getting there

The observatory occupies the roof of a school building in Reutlingen, in the Baden-Württemberg region of southern Germany, at 385 metres elevation.

Visiting Reutlingen Observatory and Planetarium

The observatory welcomes public tours and group visits, run by its team of volunteers; check the current schedule before travelling, as sessions depend on volunteer availability and weather.

See your named star from here

With telescopes ranging up to 20 inches, Reutlingen's volunteers can point toward the exact coordinates of a named star. Find its position in our star catalogue before your visit.