Volkssternwarte Paderborn

Volkssternwarte Paderborn is a volunteer-run observatory on the grounds of Gymnasium Schloß Neuhaus in Paderborn, Germany, tracing its roots back to a schoolteacher's astronomy club in the early 1970s.

About Volkssternwarte Paderborn

Today the observatory is run by Volkssternwarte Paderborn e.V., a registered charitable association with around 100 members, who open its domes to the public on Monday evenings.

History

The observatory began in 1971, when schoolteacher Reinhard Wiechoczek started an astronomical working group; it was formally registered in 1976 and renamed Volkssternwarte Paderborn e.V. in 1982. After moving to its current site at Gymnasium Schloß Neuhaus, the main 4.5-metre dome opened in 1984, and a second dome housing a 254mm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope followed in 2011.

Telescopes & research

The main dome holds a mix of refractors and reflectors, including a 350mm Newtonian, a 150mm Schaer refractor and dedicated solar telescopes, while the second dome's 254mm Schmidt-Cassegrain adds further reach for planetary and deep-sky observing.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at Gymnasium Schloß Neuhaus in Paderborn, Germany, at an elevation of about 119 metres.

Visiting Volkssternwarte Paderborn

Volkssternwarte Paderborn e.V. opens its domes to the public on Monday evenings. As with any volunteer-run observatory, it's worth checking the association's website for the current schedule before you travel.

See your named star from here

With two domes and a range of telescopes, the association's volunteer astronomers can aim at precise sky coordinates, including a star named through star-register.eu. Name a star as a gift, or browse the catalogue of stars already named.