Sternwarte Neanderhöhe Hochdahl
Image: Wikimedia Commons
On the Neanderhöhe hill above Erkrath-Hochdahl, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, a single association runs a small cluster of astronomy facilities: a planetarium, an observatory, and a training centre.
About Sternwarte Neanderhöhe Hochdahl
Sternwarte Neanderhöhe Hochdahl is one part of a larger site run by the association Sternwarte Neanderhöhe Hochdahl e.V. (snh), which counts more than 500 members. Alongside the observatory itself, the site includes the Stellarium Erkrath planetarium and a training centre, making it one of the more built-out amateur astronomy sites in this part of Germany.
History
The Stellarium Erkrath planetarium opened in 1980 and now draws around 30,000 visitors a year, while the adjoining observatory, sitting at 137 metres elevation, welcomes roughly 2,000 visitors annually in its own right.
Telescopes & research
The planetarium uses full-dome video projection technology for its shows, while the observatory itself focuses on live telescope viewing during its public evenings.
Location & getting there
The site sits on the Neanderhöhe hill in Erkrath-Hochdahl, North Rhine-Westphalia, at 137 metres above sea level, an area better known internationally for the nearby Neanderthal discovery site. Use the map and directions button on this page to get there.
Visiting Sternwarte Neanderhöhe Hochdahl
The observatory holds public observation evenings on Fridays outside school holidays, alongside the planetarium's regular show schedule; check the association's current listings before visiting.
See your named star from here
Every star named through Star Register comes with exact coordinates, and the volunteers here can point a telescope towards them during a public Friday evening. Browse the star catalogue or begin a new naming through our packages before you visit.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
