Volkssternwarte Bonn

On Poppelsdorfer Allee in Bonn, Germany, the Volkssternwarte Bonn continues a public astronomy tradition that stretches back to Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander, one of the nineteenth century's most influential astronomers.

About Volkssternwarte Bonn

The observatory sits at an elevation of about 64 metres and consists of a central dome alongside six smaller cylindrical domes housing its telescopes. It hosts regular public evening observation sessions that require no prior astronomical knowledge to join.

History

King Frederick William IV of Prussia brought Argelander to Bonn in 1836, and the original Sternwarte began operating in 1845 under his direction, during which he compiled a major star catalogue documenting hundreds of thousands of stars. The current Refraktorium building was completed in 1899 and opened to the public as an observatory in 1972. In 2018, the International Astronomical Union recognised the site as an Outstanding Astronomical Heritage location.

Location & getting there

Volkssternwarte Bonn is located at 47 Poppelsdorfer Allee in Bonn, a former West German capital in western Germany, close to the city centre.

Visiting Volkssternwarte Bonn

The observatory runs regular public evenings for stargazing; check its website for current dates and any booking requirements before visiting.

See your named star from here

A star named through Star Register can be found using its exact coordinates, whether from Bonn's historic domes or anywhere else in the world. Browse the catalogue to see stars already named by others.