Sternwarte Metzerlen

Sternwarte Metzerlen sits in Metzerlen-Mariastein, in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, on a site with a research pedigree that predates its current public role.

About Sternwarte Metzerlen

Sternwarte Metzerlen is a public and research observatory in Metzerlen-Mariastein, run by the Stiftung Regio-Sternwarte Metzerlen, a foundation set up in 2011 to keep the site active for both amateur astronomers and researchers.

History

Before the foundation took over, the site served as a research station of the former Astronomical Institute of the University of Basel, which explains the observatory's relatively serious instrumentation for a regional facility.

Telescopes & research

The observatory houses a 40-centimetre Schmidt camera, well suited to wide-field sky photography, alongside a 60-centimetre mirror telescope for more detailed visual and photographic work. It remains open to astroamateurs and to research projects, in keeping with its origins as a university research station.

Location & getting there

Metzerlen-Mariastein lies in the canton of Solothurn in north-west Switzerland, close to the French border region. Use the map and directions button on this page to plan a visit.

Visiting Sternwarte Metzerlen

Group visits can be arranged directly with the foundation; as with most foundation-run observatories, it is best to check ahead rather than simply turning up.

See your named star from here

Every star named through Star Register comes with exact right ascension and declination coordinates, which an observatory like Sternwarte Metzerlen can point a telescope towards on a clear night. Browse the star catalogue or start a new naming through our packages before arranging a visit.