Sternwarte Calden

On the northern edge of Calden, near Kassel in the German state of Hesse, Sternwarte Calden was once a thriving amateur astronomy site — though it no longer welcomes public visitors.

About Sternwarte Calden

Sternwarte Calden was established by the Astronomischer Arbeitskreis Kassel e.V. (Astronomical Working Group Kassel) around 1977. Over the years it grew from a modest beginning into a fuller site with its own residence building, a lecture hall and two observation domes.

History

The observatory expanded significantly in 1995 with the addition of a permanent residence building, a lecture building and two stable domes. It was initially powered by a solar power system, supplemented by a wind power system from 1996. The observatory closed to the public at the end of 2011, a decision driven by the expansion of the nearby Calden Airport, declining visitor numbers and reduced member activity.

Location & getting there

The site sits at the northern edge of Calden, in the Kassel district of Hesse, Germany — though as it is closed to the public, it is not set up to receive general visitors.

Visiting Sternwarte Calden

Sternwarte Calden closed its doors to the public at the end of 2011 and is no longer generally open for visits. Anyone interested in its current status should check with local astronomy groups in the Kassel area for the latest information.

See your named star from here

Even though Sternwarte Calden itself is no longer open, the region around Kassel still offers dark enough skies to look for a star named through Star Register using its precise coordinates. Search the star catalogue to find yours.