Sterrenwacht Rijswijk

Perched atop a residential building on the southern edge of Rijswijk in the Netherlands, Sterrenwacht Rijswijk has offered locals a public window on the night sky since the early 1970s.

About Sterrenwacht Rijswijk

Sterrenwacht Rijswijk is one of the earliest public observatories in the Netherlands, built on the roof of a residential building at around 45 metres above ground on the town's southern outskirts, making it the highest-located public observatory in the country.

History

The observatory was founded on 23 October 1971 by five local residents - L.J. Weimar, W. Pont, P. Sanders, B. Mastenbroek, and J.A. Idenburg - as an initiative tied to the 50th anniversary of the 'Arbeidersbelang' housing association, and partly inspired by public fascination with the Apollo moon missions. The Mayor of Rijswijk, Boogaardt, performed the official opening. Its original 30-centimetre telescope was custom designed by Willem Pont, with a mirror by S.C. van Leeuwen, and an Isocon camera was later added for television broadcasts. In 1991 the original instrument was replaced by a 36-centimetre (14-inch) Celestron telescope; a weather station followed in the late 1970s, and a CCD camera and presentation equipment were added in the late 1990s.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located on the southern outskirts of Rijswijk, a town in the western Netherlands close to The Hague.

Visiting Sterrenwacht Rijswijk

Sterrenwacht Rijswijk hosts public observing sessions; check the official website for current opening hours and event details before visiting.

See your named star from here

A named star is defined by its coordinates, so a telescope like the one atop Sterrenwacht Rijswijk can be aimed at the right ascension and declination on your star certificate just as it has tracked the sky since 1971. Browse the full star catalogue to find yours.