Volkssternwarte Hannover
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Perched on the roof terrace of a nineteenth-century water tower on Lindener Berg, Volkssternwarte Hannover has introduced generations of visitors to the night sky above Hannover, Germany.
About Volkssternwarte Hannover
Formally named Volkssternwarte Geschwister Herschel Hannover after the astronomers Wilhelm and Karoline Herschel, the observatory sits at an elevation of about 89 metres atop a water tower completed in 1878. It houses a 20cm refractor and a 28cm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, among other instruments, across two domes.
History
An amateur astronomy working group formed in Hannover in 1947 under Rudolf Hase, and it grew into the present public observatory in 1968, on one of the city's highest points. The organisation adopted its current name in 1986.
Location & getting there
Volkssternwarte Hannover is located in the Linden-Limmer district, on Lindener Berg, in the German city of Hannover. Please note the site is not wheelchair accessible.
Visiting Volkssternwarte Hannover
The observatory runs regular public sky observations and astronomical lectures, drawing more than a thousand visitors a year; check its website or call ahead for current times.
See your named star from here
A star named through Star Register can be found from Hannover's water-tower dome or anywhere else using its coordinates. Explore the catalogue to see how it works.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
Not wheelchair accessible