Sterrenwacht Limburg

Sterrenwacht Limburg is a public observatory in Heerlen, in the southern Dutch province of Limburg, run by a small team of amateur astronomers for their local community.

About Sterrenwacht Limburg

It is the only dedicated observatory in the province of Limburg, housed in the former eXplorion Science Center building in Heerlen, and is operated as a public astronomy venue rather than a research institution.

History

Stichting Sterrenwacht Limburg, the foundation behind the observatory, was established on 9 January 2012 by three amateur astronomers - Norbert Schmidt, Kai Gerards, and Christian Mass. The observatory itself formally opened to the public on 22 February 2013.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in Heerlen, in the Netherlands' southernmost province of Limburg, a region of gently rolling hills near the German and Belgian borders.

Visiting Sterrenwacht Limburg

As a public observatory, Sterrenwacht Limburg is set up to welcome visitors for observing evenings and events; check the official website for current opening times and any booking requirements before you go.

See your named star from here

Because a named star is simply a point defined by right ascension and declination, the telescopes at Sterrenwacht Limburg can be aimed at the same coordinates printed on your star certificate. Explore the full star catalogue to find yours.