Vega-Sternwarte Salzburg

Vega-Sternwarte Salzburg is a research and public observatory perched in an alpine pasture on the Haunsberg, about 800 metres up, just north of the Austrian city of Salzburg.

About Vega-Sternwarte Salzburg

The observatory is operated by Haus der Natur Salzburg, the city's well-known natural history museum, which runs it as a hub for both scientific work and public astronomy education. Its centrepiece is a Ritchey-Chrétien-Cassegrain telescope with a 1,000 mm mirror diameter and a 7,000 mm focal length, a serious instrument for an observatory this accessible to the public.

Telescopes & research

The large Ritchey-Chrétien-Cassegrain setup allows for detailed views of planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects, and it anchors the observatory's dual mission of research support and outreach to visitors of all ages.

Location & getting there

Sitting on the Haunsberg near its summit, the observatory benefits from dark alpine skies away from the light glow of Salzburg below. The 800-metre elevation and open pasture setting make for a wide, unobstructed view of the sky in most directions.

Visiting Vega-Sternwarte Salzburg

The observatory holds regular public observing nights on Monday evenings and twice a month on Wednesdays, plus a dedicated Astro Evening on the last Friday of every month. Guided tours are offered for visitors wanting a closer look at the telescope and the sky above the Haunsberg. Check the official website for the current schedule before visiting.

See your named star from here

With its large telescope and regular public sessions, Vega-Sternwarte is a genuinely good place to try spotting a named star. Bring your star's coordinates to one of the observing nights, and staff can help you find it in the eyepiece. Name a star or explore the catalogue to find one first.